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See original version (French)
JANSSONIUS (Johannes). Theatrum universae Galliæ, Continent …
See original version (French)
Lot no. 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 centre on boards, smooth spine decorated (contemporary 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).
Extremely rare first edition of the first large atlas devoted to France.
Published by the printer-librarian Johannes Janssonius (1588-1664), it comprises a title, an index page 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 a clear need for an atlas of France around 1630, as the only atlas available at the time, that of Le Clerc, published in 1619 with 39 maps, had become largely obsolete. "It was M. Tavernier who realised that Le Clerc's atlas needed a new contribution, so he imported the maps of Hondius. The relationship that existed between Henricus Hondius and Melchior Tavernier before 1631 may have stimulated Janssonius' initiative to publish an atlas of France.
"Janssonius decided to follow the classic composition of Mercator's Tabulae Geographicae, with a first part covering Gaul, a second part covering Germania and a third part covering 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. The County of Brie. - 10. Picardy.
11. Vermandois. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius. - 12. Map of the Pais de Retelois. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius, 1624. Map by the cartographer and geographer Jean Jubrien (1569-1641) from Châlons-sur-Marne. - 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 the 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. Map of the Country and Duchy of 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 the Messin geographer Abraham Fabert (1563-1638). Amsterdam: Jodocus and Henricus Hondius. - 24. Bolonia & Guines Comitatus. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius. - 25. Perchensis Comitatus. La Perche Count. - 26. La Beauce. - 27. Duchy of Bretaigne. Drawn by Sieur Herdy Mareschal des Logis du Roy. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius; Paris: Melchior Tavernier. - 28. The Northern Part of 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 Country of 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 a plan of the town of Limoges. - 34. The Diocese of Sarlat. Diocœsis Sarlatensis. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius; Paris: Melchior Tavernier, 1625. - 35. The Bearn Country. Engraved by Evert Symonsz Hamersvelt. - 36. Carte et description generale du Dauphiné Avec les Confins des Païs et Provinces voisines. Le tout Racourcy et reduict Par Iean de Beins Ingénieur et Geographe du Roy. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius. - 37. Provincia. La Provence. Amsterdam: Jodocus and Henricus Hondius, 1621. - 38. The Principality of Orange and the County of Venaissin. Amsterdam: Jodocus and Henricus Hondius, 1627. Engraved by Evert Symonsz Hamersvelt. - 39. Lothairingia septentrionales. Loraine. (No. 46 in the index.) - 40. Burgundiæ comitatus. Franche Comté. (n° 41 in the index).
41. Carte geométrique Des environs de l'estang de Long pendu, D'ont leau tombe dans l'Ocean et dans la Mediterranée comprenant grand part du Comte de Charolois par Ian van Damme Sr d'Amendale. (n° 40 in the index). - 42. Le Duche de Bourgoigne et Comte de Charolois. Amsterdam: Josse Hondius (no. 41 in the index) - 43. Bresse (n° 42 in the index). - 44. Le Pais de Caux. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius; Paris: Melchior Tavernier. (n° 43 in the index.) - 45. The Sovereignty of Sedan and Raucourt and the Precedence of Doncheri. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius; Paris: Melchior Tavernier. (No. 44 in the index.) - 46. Description du Gouvernement de la Cappelle by P. Petit Bourbon (no. 45 in the index) - 47. Lorraine towards the midday. - 48. Maine. (n° 15 in the index.) - 49. Sabaudia ducatus. Savoy. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius. - 50. L'Archevesche de Cambray. Amsterdam: Henricus Hondius: Paris: Melchior Tavernier.
Of these 50 maps, 32 would be new, the rest coming from an old stock. This was the largest atlas of France ever published.
This is a full-colour copy, including the title vignette, and the only complete copy to have come up for sale in decades. It comes from the prestigious library of Christopher Henry Beaumont Pease, 2nd Lord Wardington (1924-2005), sold in London by Sotheby's in 2005-2006. It was previously sold at Christie's in an anonymous sale on 4 June 1980 (no. 86). Koeman has only located 3 examples and Van Der Krogt lists 4, including this one.
Rebacked copy, covers stained, a few tears to the spine, endpapers renewed. The maps are browned and most have been restored, sometimes reembossed. Some restorations affect the maps. Lord Wardington's super libris has been gilt in the centre of the boards. The engraved and coloured arms of France have been cut out and pasted on the title.
Provenance: sale, Christie's, 4 June 1980, lot 86. - Lord Wardington, with his super libris and bookplate (Sotheby's sale, I, 18 October 2005, no. 208).
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