Attractive 17th-century map of Egypt with ancient place names.
Aegyptus Antiqua Divisa in Nomos Authore P. Duval Abbevilliense Regis Christianissimi Geographo
$475
In stock
Description
This is Pierre Duval’s presentation of the natural and cultural landscape of Ancient Egypt, published in Janssonius’ famed Atlas Major. It conveys a sense of this land of empires and kings from millennia prior, plotting and illustrating cities like Babylon, Memphis, and Nilopolis, rather than contemporary Arabic language centers like Cairo, Port Said, or Giza. The most easily recognizable city today is of course Alexandria, one of the premier cities of the ancient world. The pyramids are also shown.
The map is oriented to the west; the great deserts of Libya are located at top, the Mediterranean at right, the Red Sea and part of the Sinai Peninsula along the bottom, and Nubia to the left. The title cartouche states that the cartography is the work of Duval. The map has been dedicated to Doviat Sgr. de Montreuille, reflecting Duval’s royal connections to the French Court.
Cartographer(s):
Johannes Janssonius (1588 – 1664; born Jan Janszoon, also Jan Jansson) was a Dutch cartographer and publisher who lived and worked in Amsterdam in the 17th century. Janssonius was born in Arnhem, the son of Jan Janszoon the Elder, a publisher and bookseller. In 1612 he married Elisabeth de Hondt, the daughter of Jodocus Hondius. He produced his first maps in 1616 of France and Italy.
In the 1630s, Janssonius formed a partnership with his brother-in-law Henricus Hondius; they published atlases as Mercator/Hondius/Janssonius. Under the leadership of Janssonius, the Hondius Atlas was steadily enlarged. After Janssonius’s death, the publishing company was continued by his son-in-law, Johannes van Waesbergen. The London bookseller Moses Pitt attempted publication of the Atlas Major in English but ran out of resources after the fourth volume in 1683.
Pierre du ValPierre Duval (1618–1683) was a French geographer. He was the nephew and pupil of the famous Nicolas Sanson. Encouraged by Louis XIV to move to Paris, he later became Geographe Ordinaire du Roy.
Condition Description
Minor smudges and remnants of hanging tape. Minor repairs. A fine, attractive image.
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