This handsome map of Asia was issued by Jansson. Geographically, the map remains unchanged from Hondius’s 1631 version of this piece with the shape and details based on Jodocus Hondius II and Johannes Jansson’s map of 1623. Although Jansson leaves the Hondius name on the two principal cartouches, he does add his own name on the lower right of the map.

Due to the age of the original edition, some of the geography of this map is now out of date. Dutch discoveries in Pacific Ocean around Australia are not recorded, it still bears an antiquated shape of China and Japan based on Abraham Ortelius. Younger Dutch map makers such as Nicolas Visscher and Frederick de Wit had already produced maps of Asia which incorporated many these new discoveries.

Aesthetically however Jansson had been part of the Hondius firm his whole life. He was one of the instrumental forces in establishing the artistic style of the Dutch Golden Age and this is still very much apparent on this map with its galleons, sea monsters, mer-people and a pair of small lions in Egypt. This artistic tradition was a feature that other Dutch competitors were still emulating as opposed to surpassing.

Spanish text on verso (image available on request). Original hand colour. [AS1241]