"Portugalliae quea olim Lusitania Vernando Alvaro Secco Autore Recens Descriptio", Jode, Cornelis de

A rare copper engraved chart of Portugal from the surveys of Fernando Alvares Seco. This fine engraving by Joannes and Lucas Doetecum is highly decorated with sailing ships, sea monsters and a large, but simple, compass rose. Strapwork style title cartouche. 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.

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Condition: B

Dark impression on fine paper with wide margins. Areas of scattered light toning, paper roughness in lower margin, toned along centerfold. Will benefit from a little professional conservation.