Africae Vera Forma et Sitvs

Reference: s25125
Author Cornelis DE JODE
Year: 1593 ca.
Zone: Africa
Printed: Antwerpen
Measures: 450 x 325 mm
€5,500.00

Reference: s25125
Author Cornelis DE JODE
Year: 1593 ca.
Zone: Africa
Printed: Antwerpen
Measures: 450 x 325 mm
€5,500.00

Description

This is the De Jode family's second map of Africa, issued in 1593 by Cornelis de jode.

His father, Gerard, in 1578 published the atlas Speculum Orbis Terrarum, and evidently he intended to issue a revisited and expanded edition.

Due to his death, Cornelis realized the new edition and in 1593 published the atlas Speculum Orbis Terrae, adding ten new copperplates includind this map of Africa.

The large title at the top is flanked by some intricate design work and the oceans are decorated with sailing ships and sea monsters.

Cartographically, the map refers to Mercator for the river systems and Ortelius for other points. De Jode had originally intended his atlas to compete with Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. The competition between De Jode and Ortelius had been intense, but the better-connected Ortelius was able to influence events - possibly even ensuring a denial of the necessary Royal Privilege for De Jode until 1577.

De Jode's Speculum Orbis Terrarum was issued the next year. The Speculum had to compete against Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, in its eighth year of publication and already in its sixteenth edition, and was unable to make any serious impression on the market-hold enjoyed by Ortelius. De Jode's maps are thus appreciably rarer than those by Ortelius and are often better engravings.

A good impression of this finely engraved, rare and sought after map in overall good condition.

Literature

R. L. Betz "The Mapping of Africa…" (2007), map 27; O. I. Norwich, "Norwich's Maps of Africa", map 19

Cornelis DE JODE (c. 1509 - 91)

Gerard de Jode, born in Nijmegen, was a cartographer, engraver, printer and publisher in Antwerp, issuing maps from 1555 more or less in the same period as Ortelius. He was never able to offer very serious competition to his more businesslike rival although, ironically, he published Ortelius's famous 8-sheet World Map in 1564. His major atlas, now extremely rare, could not be published until 1578, eight years after the Theatrum, Ortelius having obtained a monopoly for that period. The enlarged re-issue by his son in 1593 is more frequently found. On the death of Cornelis, the copper plates passed to J. B. Vrients (who bought the Ortelius plates about the same time) and apparently no further issue of the atlas was published: however, at least one further issue of the Polar Map, c.1618, is known. Son of Gerard de Jode, who was a cartographer, engraver, printer and publisher in Antwerp, issuing maps from 1555 more or less in the same period as Ortelius. Gerard de Jode's major atlas, now extremely rare, could not be published until 1578, eight years after the Theatrum, Ortelius having obtained a monopoly for that period. The enlarged re-issue by his Cornelis in 1593 is more frequently found. On the death of Cornelis, the copper plates passed to J. B. Vrients (who bought the Ortelius plates about the same time) and apparently no further issue of the atlas was published: however, at least one further issue of the Polar Map, c.1618, is known.

Literature

R. L. Betz "The Mapping of Africa…" (2007), map 27; O. I. Norwich, "Norwich's Maps of Africa", map 19

Cornelis DE JODE (c. 1509 - 91)

Gerard de Jode, born in Nijmegen, was a cartographer, engraver, printer and publisher in Antwerp, issuing maps from 1555 more or less in the same period as Ortelius. He was never able to offer very serious competition to his more businesslike rival although, ironically, he published Ortelius's famous 8-sheet World Map in 1564. His major atlas, now extremely rare, could not be published until 1578, eight years after the Theatrum, Ortelius having obtained a monopoly for that period. The enlarged re-issue by his son in 1593 is more frequently found. On the death of Cornelis, the copper plates passed to J. B. Vrients (who bought the Ortelius plates about the same time) and apparently no further issue of the atlas was published: however, at least one further issue of the Polar Map, c.1618, is known. Son of Gerard de Jode, who was a cartographer, engraver, printer and publisher in Antwerp, issuing maps from 1555 more or less in the same period as Ortelius. Gerard de Jode's major atlas, now extremely rare, could not be published until 1578, eight years after the Theatrum, Ortelius having obtained a monopoly for that period. The enlarged re-issue by his Cornelis in 1593 is more frequently found. On the death of Cornelis, the copper plates passed to J. B. Vrients (who bought the Ortelius plates about the same time) and apparently no further issue of the atlas was published: however, at least one further issue of the Polar Map, c.1618, is known.