Antique Map Of Aragon, 1638

Magnificent Hand-Colored Antique Map of Aragon. Janssonius-Joan Baptista Labaña. The Netherlands, 1638

Spectacular large-scale antique map of Aragon, highly detailed and featuring hand-colored sections from the period. The map dates from 1638 and was created by Jan Janssonius, a renowned Dutch engraver and publisher who published two important works together with his brother-in-law, Henricus Hodius: the *Atlas Novus* and the *Atlas Magnus*. The map shown in these images was created in collaboration with Joan Baptista Labaña, whose name appears on the label in the upper left corner. On the reverse side, there is a detailed description in Latin of the territory depicted on the map.

Below this label is another large label, topped by a crown held aloft by two naked children and resting on two yellow and red shields. The frame is blue. Inside is a long dedication signed by Henricus Hondius (publisher of the atlases). The name Joan Baptista Labaña also appears on the upper label, painted in red and bearing the following inscription: NOVISSIMA ARRAGONIAE REGNI TABULA - AUTHORE IOANNE BAPTISTA LABANNA. Aside from these words, the rest of the text on the map is written in Old Castilian rather than Latin, as was customary. We see the words Parte de Valencia, Parte de Catalunna The border, the boundaries, and the geographical features are colored in pink, yellow, and brown watercolor, creating a composition that is as unique as it is attractive.

This exceptional antique map of Aragon is destined to stand out in a grand living room or in the study of a lover of history and period cartography.

Dimensions: Paper: Width: 18 in / 57 cm. Height: 22.4 in / 48 cm. Engraving: Width: 55 cm. Height: 45 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. On the back of the map, we can see a detailed Latin description of the depicted territory.

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.