Hertfordshire Maps

53x42 cm

MIDDELSEXIÆ cum HERTFORDIÆ COMITATU: Midlesex & Hertford Shire.
Amstelodami Apud Joannem Jansonium.

Copper engraving by Dutch engraver and publisher, Jan Jansson (1588-1664) issued in his Ioannis Ianssonii Novus Atlas from 1646. Following the publication of a volume of county maps of England and Wales by his rival mapmaker and publisher Jan Blaeu in 1645, Jansson produced his version just one year later matching the superb engraving standard of his rival Blaeu. There were a number of editions of Jansson's work in various languages between 1646 and 1667. Until 1658 the atlas was issued in four or five volumes with the British maps in the fourth volume, later editions expanded to eleven volumes. In 1681 Pieter Schenk and Gerard Valck had acquired the plates and began re-issues with their imprint as loose sheets sold separately and in 1714, 1715 and 1724 in Atlas Anglois, ou description general de l'Angleterre...
Although Jansson matched his rival Blaeu in the quality of his  engraving and publishing, the rag paper was not always of such high quality and his maps often suffer from browning and foxing today. This example however, in full original hand colour, is very clean with only slight discolouration from the verdigris used in the original green pigments. An excellent map from the first issue of 1646 with Latin text verso (catchword: Hinc)
Hodson Printed Maps of Hertfordshire ref. 12(i)