Nova Africae Tabula

Original copperplate engraved map
Fine Handcolor
370 x 500 mm
Map # AF-544
$ 1,750

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Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612) was the founder of the famous 17th century Dutch map publishing family.  Hondius, along with sons Jodocus II and Henricus and son-in-law Jan Janssonius, was prominent in Dutch cartography and competed with the emerging Blaeu family map business. 

When Jodocus Hondius acquired the copperplates of the Mercator atlas and decided to re-issue them in 1606, he prepared this map for inclusion in his Atlas sive Cosmographicae...Gerardi Mercatoris.  along with the Mercator Africa map.  It is based on the Mercator map of Africa but the coastline, particularly of Madagascar, was considerably altered.  Hondius also provided more detailed information in southern Africa (he inserted Saldanha Bay and Cape Falco and removed Ortelius’ reference to Cayneca).  Of particular interest, Hondius shows Portuguese exploration up the unnamed Cuama (Zambezi) River into the interior of south central Africa in the region of Monomotapa.  This “Cast. Portugal” (the Portuguese Fort) is placed within the junction of the Spirito and Cuama rivers.

The map is from a Latin edition of the Atlas sive Cosmographicae of 1613 with a signature of "Ddddddd" and page 320.   This map was later changed and re-issued by Hondius' son, Henricus, in 1631, at which time it ceased to be used.  

References:   Betz Map # 52.  Norwich Map #27. Tooley, Maps of Africa, p. 53-544.  Krogt, Peter van der,. Koeman's Atlantes Neerlandici, vol. 1. 't Goy-Houten: HES Publishers,1997. p 711.

Fine Condition overall with some waterstaining to the margins.  A light printer's cease on left side.