Asia recens summa cura delineata Auct Jud Hondio 1631

Amsterdam, 1631. framed. Map. Engraving with original outline coloring. 14.75 x 19.75 inches. Amsterdam: J. Hondius, 1631. In a custom brown and gold frame with linen matting. 21x 25 1/2 inches.<br/> <br/> Lovely map of Asia in the early 17th century. Beautifully composed with tiny yet legible toponyms. The map spans from the Mediterranean to Japan. Extending from Nova Zembla in the Arctic circle to Java in the East Indies. The Great Wall of China is artfully rendered. The title cartouche shows two bow hunters and the map is dedicated to Eilhard Lubin a poet and mapmaker. Light foxing and toning, not examined out of the frame. Wonderful pictorial details throughout including lions, sea monsters, ships and merman playing a horn while riding a giant fish off the coast of Sumatra. Hondius (1563-1612) was the founder of a prolific map publishing business, which helped to propel the Dutch to lead innovations in cartography. When Jodocus the elder died in 1612, his wife Colette ran the business until their sons came of age to join the firm. During this time, their daughter Elisabeth married Johannes Jansson and the two of them helped Colette run the business. Jodocus & Colette's youngest son, Henricus Hondius (1597-1651) later ran the business along with his extended family. This map is a wonderful example of their work.<br/> <br/>