This is the first Dutch sea chart of the Pacific Ocean. In 1650 Jan Jansson published the sea atlas entitled ‘Atlantis Majoris Quinta Pars, Orbem Maritimum’ as the fifth volume of his ‘Atlas Novus’. It is the first sea atlas of the world only pre-dated by the much more cumbersome six-volume ‘Arcano del Mare’ by Sir Robert Dudley in 1646-7.

‘California as an island is of the Briggs type, most probably using Abraham Goos’ map as a model. This probability is drawn from the fact that it was similarly published in Amsterdam, and that Punta de la Conception appears only the once. The north of the Pacific Ocean is dominated by a TERRA INCOGNITA; this land mass had been a common feature of the region for some time.’ (Burden). The map also illustrates a distinctive chain of islands in the Pacific ‘A legend identifies them as being discovered by one Hernando Galego in 1576, who was sent at the behest of the King of Spain. The recently discovered coastlines of southern New Guinea and Cape York, Australia, also appear.’ (Burden).

Jan Jannson (1596-1664) was the great rival of the Blaeu family of publishers. In 1630 Blaeu published his ‘Appendix’ which was a challenge to the pre-dominance of the Mercator-Hondius atlases of the day. A publishing race ensued, and Jodocus Hondius joined forces with Jansson who co-published and distributed the ‘Atlas Novus’. It was expanded over the years to six volumes and eventually formed 12 volumes in the ‘Atlas Major’. Jansson often conceived of ideas in cartography prior to that of Blaeu.

The text setting of this Latin edition indicates that it was published in the 1659 issue. Provenance: Richard B. Arkway Inc. 2002; Juan and Peggy Rada Collection. Burden (1996) 292; Koeman (1967) vol. 2, pp. 492-3, no. 657; van der Krogt (Atlantes) 0600:1; Leighly (1972) pl. 6; McLaughlin & Mayo (1995) no. 11; Phillips (1909-) no. 502; Schilder (1990) pp. 271-3 (describing the voyage of Vries); Tooley (1964) p. 114 no. 10; Wagner (1937) p. 125 & no. 359.