Antique Map Of Mexico, 1628

Beautiful Hand-Colored Antique Map of Mexico from the Period. By Mercator-Janssonius. Holland, 1628

A stunning antique map of Mexico, engraved and published in Holland by Mercator-Janssonius, renowned engravers and publishers of maps and atlases from the 17th century. The map shown in the photos is dated 1628 and is magnificently preserved, with no signs of deterioration and no torn or damaged sections. It depicts the territory of Mexico, or as it was known at the time, New Spain (Hispania Nova in Latin). The map is part of a beautiful atlas, featuring engravings by Jan Janssonius and published by the cartographer Gerardus Mercator. It stands out for its meticulous black-ink printing and delicate hand-coloring, done with yellow, red, and blue watercolors to highlight the engraving.

The map is framed by a beautiful scale painted in yellow. The coastlines and rivers are painted in this same color, while the mountain ranges are brown (sepia). The beautiful cartouche in the upper right corner is colored with red watercolor: on it we can see the name of the territory depicted, HISPANIA NOVAE - NOVA DESCRIPTIO (New Description of New Spain). Below it is a simpler rectangular cartouche, with the scale in German miles and Spanish leagues.

This impressive antique map of Mexico, formerly New Spain, brings to mind the times when much of the world was still yet to be explored.

Dimensions: Paper: Width: 23 cm. Height: 17 cm. Engraving: Width: 19 cm. Height: 13 cm.

History of Jan Janssonius

Jan Janssonius (Johannes Janssonius, 15881664) was a Dutch cartographer and publisher, famous for his contribution to the Hondius Atlas. The relationship between Janssonius and Hondius began as a family one, since in 1612 Janssonius married Elisabeth de Hondt, daughter of Jodocus Hondius.

Janssonius was the son of a Dutch publisher and bookseller, and he produced his first maps in 1616, depicting France and Italy. By 1623, he owned a bookstore in Frankfurt and later opened branches in other European cities. In 1630, Janssonius partnered with his brother-in-law Henricus Hondius, and they began publishing the famous Mercator/Hondius/Janssonius atlases. Published under the title *Atlas Novus*, the work comprised three volumes by 1638; in 1646, another volume on Maps of English Counties was published. In 1660, the atlas was renamed *Atlas Major*: by then it consisted of eleven volumes, with contributions from around one hundred authors and engravers. The volumes include an atlas of cities, one of the seas, and another of the ancient world, as well as an Atlas of the Clelians by Andreas Cellarius. After Janssoniuss death, his son-in-law Johannes van Waesberg took over ownership of the publishing house.