Johannes Janssonius (1588 – 1664)
Cartographer and publisher in Amsterdam.
Son-in-law of Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612), who
had published the Mercator-Hondius Atlas from
1606.
After 1630 Janssonius became partner of his
brother-in-law Henricus Hondius (1597 – 1651),
who had succeeded his father together with his
brother Jodocus Hondius, Junior (1594 – 1629)
in 1612.
A new edition of the Mercator-Hondius Atlas
by J. Janssonius and H. Hondius in 1631 was
followed by a second volume in 1633. As 'Atlas
Novus' or 'Theatre du Monde' three volumes had
been published until 1639.
In 1640 H. Hondius retired and Janssonius
became publishing director. Under the leadership
of Janssonius the 'Atlas Novus' was steadily
enlarged to an atlas-work of six volumes, published
in Latin, French, German, and Dutch in the following
years.
The first three volumes contained maps of
Northern and Eastern Europe and of Germany (vol.
1), of the Netherlands, France and Spain (vol.
2) and of Italy, Greece and maps of the continents
(vol. 3). The fourth volume, first published
in 1646, was fully dedicated to the British
Isles, the fifth volume, published in 1650 for
the first time, was an atlas with sea charts
(Atlas Maritimus) and the sixth volume included
maps of the Ancient World.
Until 1662 the atlases published by Janssonius
- meanwhile called 'Atlas Major' - increased
to eleven volumes, including a Townatlas and
the famous Atlas of the Heavens by Andreas Cellarius
(volume 11). All in all a monumental work, which
contains the work of about a hundred authors
and engravers.
J. Janssonius' publishing company was continued
by members of his family, esp. by his son-in
law Johannes van Waesberg (died 1681).
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