Insulae Canariae, olim Fortunatae Dictae

Very decorative nautical chart of the Canary Islands by J. Janssonius. Shows Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, La Palma and Madeira. With beautiful old color. Decorated with rhumb lines, a compass rose, three sailing ships, a figural cartouche and a mileage scale. This is the edition published by Valk & Schenk in Amsterdam around 1690.

The green old color around Gran Canaria is oxidized and backed with thin Japanese paper. Very good conditions in fine original old colours.

Johannes Janssonius also known as Jan Jansson was born 1588 in Arnhem, Netherlands. His father was a bookseller and publisher (Jan Janszoon the Elder). When he married the daughter of the cartographer Jodocus Hondius he also set up a business as book publisher in Amsterdam. His first map was published in 1616. Around 15 years later he set up a partnership with his brother in law Hondius add issued further editions of the Mercator/Hondius atlas. After his death in 1664, his heirs still have published several maps. Many of his plates have been acquired by Pieter Schenk and Gerard Valk.