With old hand colouring, possibly contemporary.
Generally known as Jan Jansson, this remarkable mapmaker was born into the world of printed material, set himself up and even married in to it. His own father was a publisher and bookseller known as Jan Janszoon (the Elder). Having met various writers, engravers and mapmakers through his father, Jan eventually married in 1612, the daughter of one of the more renowned, Jocodus Hondius.From here, and with not only the blessing of his father-in-law, but with a few useful hints and helping hands, Jansson set up in business in Amsterdam, initially as a book publisher. His maps began to come in 1616, the first being of France and Italy.
Although of a really high standard, he was always going to have to compete with the well-established and renowned map makers of the Blaeu family, and competing with those who had perfected their art was far from straightforward.
It was when Jan teamed up with his wife's brother, Henricus Hondius, that things began to move. Using the atlas plates developed by his father-in-law and Gerard Mercator, adding his name to the plates, business began to swing their way as they finally had a quality set of maps that could perhaps touch the Blaeus for quality.
The partnership continued until the death of Henricus Hondius, but, by this time, they had achieved a remarkable volume of quality work, that Jansson decided to continue alone.
