Africa--Hondius, Jodocus, Jr.

not recorded in Betz, Mapping of Africa

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Dutch original is Schilder 13.3. (dated 1632).

an apparently unique collection of cartes à figures.

Günter Schilder, in the introduction to his carto-bibliography  of Dutch folio-sized maps with decorative borders (sometimes termed cartes à figures, or "panelled maps")* commented "this genre must be considered one of the finest products of the Amsterdam map-making industry. The successful combination of advances in geographical knowledge with the expression of artistic capability made these maps a valued commodity on both the domestic and broader international markets".

That many of these maps were sold as separate sheets, and were only randomly inserted into composite-style atlases of the period, accounts for their rarity today, while their aesthetic appeal has not diminished over the centuries, making them highly collectable examples of the mapmaker's art.

It comes as no surprise that, as Dutch mapmakers provided most of the cartographic models for publishers working throughout Europe, their forays into decorative cartography were similarly copied in other European centres, notably London and Paris.

Seven of the maps following are hitherto unrecorded piracies taken from Dutch models by Pieter van den Keere or Jodocus Hondius Jr (re-)published by Johannes Janssonius in the 1630s and 1640s; one feature of the copying process is that the vast majority of the vignettes and costume figures, as also the armorials on the map of Germany, are reversed in engraving so what was on the left in the original now appears on the right. While this is commonly encountered for decorative features in maps, it is incongruous on the London plan, for example, to see the Tower of London placed on the west side of London and Westminster on the east. (However, all the vignettes on the map of France and three on that of Europe – Venice, Rome and Constantinople – are correctly orientated).

Although copied from Dutch models, and assuming the engraved dates of 1641 or 1642 are broadly correct for the publication date of the set, it should be noted that the examples of the maps used were not acquired contemporaneously; the maps of the continents, for example were issued by Janssonius in 1632 with the lower panel removed.

It is possible that these maps were engraved in Venice (the plan of Venice being one of the few vignette insets correctly orientated), perhaps by the little known publisher Stefano Scolari, who is known to have published other maps from Dutch originals, but as the maps are without any engraved attribution, this must be speculative. That the paper used in printing was too small for the printing plates may, however, point to a bookseller rather than map- or print-seller.  Five of the maps have watermarks showing an anchor in a circle, surmounted by a six-pointed star (Heawood 8?) which indicates the paper to be Italian and of the period. Although none of the maps are recorded by Schilder, it is possible to identify the original Dutch models on which they are based, and these are noted against each map

the maps represent a remarkable survival, and an exciting addition to the existing carto-bibliographical record.

.*Schilder, G. Monumenta Cartographica Neerlandica VI. Alphen aan den Rijn, 2000