Afrika/Südafrika Janssonius, J. Copper Plate, Hand Colored Inner and Outer Ethiopia This is a wonderfully illustrated Dutch map of South African with Latin text. The title cartouche in the bottom right is bordered by indigenous peoples, monkeys and turtles present on the African Continent. Beneath this a German mile scale is present. The continent has illustrations of wildlife and the mythical lake “Zachaf lacus” the source for the Zambere/Cuama and Spirito Santo Rivers. This area was import to The Dutch East India Company initially as a refreshment station for ships sailing to Asia to trade. This base would become modern day Cape Town. Joan Janssonius (1588-1664) was the son of a bookseller and publisher from Arnhem. In 1612 he married the daughter of the cartographer Jodocus Hondius and opened his own shop in Amsterdam. In 1616 he published his first maps of Italy and France. In 1638 he contributed to a complete revision of the Atlas made by Mercator-Hondius the Nouvel Atlas which was published in two volumes. References Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers, Early World Press, 2004 Joost Augustejin and Wilco Poortman, Kaarten in Bijbel 16e-18e eeuw, 1995
