The ‘Atlas Minor’ by Johannes Cloppenburg was the least successful of three ‘Minor’ versions of Gerard Mercator’s ‘Atlas’. Published in just three editions the first was issued in 1630. The reasons for this are unknown but may have something to do with the fact that when the plates reappeared some forty years later they were in the hands of Johannes Janssonius’ descendants. Janssonius had published a rival slightly smaller atlas in 1628. It is possible he bought this the largest of the three works. The copperplates for this work were engraved by Pieter van den Keere. This map is of the south west of England including Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset and South Wales. This is an example of the second state after the shot silk moire effect of the sea has been erased, but before the addition of a plate number. A rare issue. Koeman ME 198 & 205; Phillips 3439; Shirley ‘Atlases in the BL’ T.Clop 1a & 1c.