Rare Hondius Version of Ortelius' Map of Greece

"Graecia Sophiani", Hondius, Jodocus

This rare map is Hondius' copy of Abraham Ortelius' map, which first appeared in Ortelius' Parergon. After Ortelius' death, some of his plates were passed on to either Isaac Elsevier or Jodocus Hondius, who partnered with Petrus Bertius and published them in Theatrum Geographiae Veteris. In addition to Ortelius' maps, the work also included Ptolemaic maps by Mercator and some newly engraved maps by Jodocus Hondius and Pieter van den Keere. From 1618-19, the Theatrum Geographiae Veteris was published in three different series (all still considered the same edition), with Ortelius' original maps increasingly replaced by the newly engraved maps. Ortelius' map of Greece only appeared in the first series, before being replaced by Hondius' version in series 2. As this map only appeared in the Theatrum Geographiae Veteris it is very rare.

The cartography is nearly identical to Ortelius' with a lovely depiction of ancient Greece, western Turkey and the Grecian islands based on the 1545 woodcut map by Nikolaus Sophianos. Hondius updated the decorative elements with two new cartouches. Latin text on verso.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #7800H:1A.1; Zacharakis #1014.

Condition: A

A sharp impression, trimmed to the neatlines and professionally remargined.