Subject: Austria
Period: 1593 (published)
Publication: Speculum Orbis Terarrum
Color: Black & White
Size:
20.6 x 14.9 inches
52.3 x 37.8 cm
This handsome map of Austria presents a distorted picture of the course of the rivers Drau, Mur, Gurk and Lavant with numerous spurious lakes. The rivers in the north are much more accurately represented. The map is attributed to the work of Wolfgang Lazio. Strapwork title cartouche, scale of miles with dividers, and a coat of arms adorn the sheet. Latin text on verso.
Cornelis de Jode (1568-1600) was the son of the mapmaker and publisher Gerard de Jode. The elder published several important maps including Ortelius' famous 8-sheet map of the world in 1564. His major atlas, Speculum Orbis Terrarum was a commercial failure because his rival, Abraham Ortelius, was able to obtain a monopoly for eight years at the same time De Jode was preparing the publication. After Gerard's death, his widow and son enlarged the atlas and re-issue it in 1593. On the death of Cornelis, the copper plates were sold to J. B. Vrients, who acquired them merely to stop their re-issue, as he had also acquired the Ortelius plates. De Jode maps are rarely offered on the market.
References: Shirley (BL Atlases) T.JOD-1c; Van der Krogt (Vol. III) #2710:32.
Condition: B
A nice impression on watermarked paper with light toning along centerfold and archivally repaired centerfold separations at top and bottom. There are a number of short tears and two small holes at bottom of map that have been repaired, with minor loss of image.