JANSSONIUS (Johannes). - Lot 45

JANSSONIUS (Johannes). Theatrum universae Galliæ, Continent Exactissimam Ducatuum, Comitatuum, Principatuum, & Provinciarum descriptionem Geographicam. Amsterdam : Johannes Janssonus, 1631. - In-folio, 420 x 290 : (2 ff.), 50 maps. Soft parchment, gilt and cold fillet framing and gilt superlibris in center on boards, ornate smooth spine (period binding). Cornelis Koeman, Le Theatrum Universae Galliae, 1631. An Atlas of France by Joannes Janssonius, in Imago Mundi, vol. 17 (1963), pp. 62-72. - Van der Krogt 1:211A (notes four copies dated 1631, including this one, and four dated 1633). Rarissime first edition of the first large atlas devoted to France. Published by the printer-librarian Johannes Janssonius (1588-1664), it includes a title, an index leaf and 50 double-page maps, most of which bear the names of Jodocus and Henricus Hondius, respectively Janssonius' father-in-law and brother-in-law, as well as Melchior Tavernier. The presence of the French engraver and publisher Melchior Tavernier (1594-1665) is easily explained. As Koeman points out, there was an obvious need for an atlas of France around 1630, as the only atlas available at the time, Le Clerc's 39-map atlas published in 1619, had become largely obsolete. "It was M. Tavernier who realized that Le Clerc's atlas needed new input, so he imported the maps of Hondius. The relationship that existed between Henricus Hondius and Melchior Tavernier prior to 1631 may have stimulated the initiative taken by Janssonius to publish an atlas of France." " Janssonius decided to follow the classical composition of Mercator's Tabulae Geographicae, i.e. a first part, Gaul, then a second, Germania, and finally a third, Italy... Like the Appendices, the Theatri contain no text, apart from a typographical title page and a table of contents. The main purpose of these atlases was probably to serve as a collection of maps to be added to older atlases. This use of Appendices and Theatri may explain the extreme rarity of these editions" (Van der Krogt). The atlas includes the following 50 maps: 1. Galliæ veteris Typus. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius. - 2. Galliæ. Amsterdam: Johannes Janssonius, 1616. - 3. Government of the Isle of France. - 4. Description of the Blaisois. 1630. - 5. Gastinois and Senonois. - 6. Champagne. Comitatus Campania. - 7. Pais de Valois. - 8. Beauvaisis. Comitatus Belovacium. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius. - 9. County of Brie. - 10. Picardie. 11. Vermandois. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius. - 12. Map of the Pais de Retelois. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius, 1624. Map by Châlons-sur-Marne-born cartographer and geographer Jean Jubrien (1569-1641). - 13. The Duchy of Berry. Amsterdam: Josse Hondius; Paris: Melchior Tavernier. - 14. Touraine. Turonen sis ducatus. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius, 1620 - 15. Lacus Lemani. Vicinorumq. locorum nova et accurata descriptio. Jodocus Hondius (no. 48 in index). - 16. The Duchy of Anjou. Amsterdam, 1630. - 17. Bourbonois. Borbonium Ducatus (no. 19 in the table). - 18. Loudunois. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius, 1627. - 19. Poictou. Pictaviensis comitatus. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius. - 20. Carte du païs et Duché de Nivernois. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius. 21. Lionnois, Forest, and Beauiolois. - 22. The Principality of Dombes. Engraved by Josua Van den Ende (1584?-1634). - 23. Messin. Nova Territorii Metensis Descriptio. By Messin geographer Abraham Fabert (1563-1638). Amsterdam: Jodocus and Henricus Hondius. - 24. Bolonia & Guines Comitatus. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius. - 25. Perchensis Comitatus. La Perche Compte. - 26. Beauce. - 27. Duchy of Bretaigne. Drawn by Sieur Herdy Mareschal des Logis du Roy. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius; Paris: Melchior Tavernier. - 28. La Partie Septentrionale du Languedoc. Amsterdam: Josse Hondius; Paris: Melchior Tavernier, 1623. - 29. The Meridional Part of Languedoc. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius. - 30. Quercy. Cadurcium. 31. Bourdelois, Pays de Medoc, et la Prevoste de Born. Amsterdam: Evert Symonsz Hamersvelt, Jodocus Hondius. - 32. Map of the Pays de Xaintonge. Amsterdam: Jodocus and Henricus Hondius. - 33. Totius Lemovici et Consinium provinciaru(m) quantum ad diœcesin Lemovicensen spectant. By cartographer Jean Fayen (1530?-1616). With map of the city of Limoges. - 34. The Diocese of Sarlat. Diocœsis Sarlatensis. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius; Paris: Melchior Tavernier, 1625. - 35. Le Pais de Bearn. Engraved by Evert Symonsz Hamersvelt. - 36. Carte et description generale du Dauphiné Avec les Confins des Païs et Provinces voisines. Le tou