Featured Map copy-age comments please

Hi all,this interesting map in a nice frame. There are so many copies and prints around. This looks to have some age to it? It also looks to have been folded (maybe out of a book or folder?) Many examples online with some being little different. So is this a modern print,older print,printed off a original plate? What do you think? Does the paper show true age? Print size is 38 x50cm. Many thanks

 

Does look like an atlas plate. Does it appear to be hand-colored? You can compare it to this. Size, paper, etc. And you can always open it up; frame and matting would be much newer than map if an antique copy.

https://www.raremaps.com/gallery/detail/17911/aethiopia-inferior-vel-exterior-jansson

Debora

 

The crease in the middle could be a good sign that it came from an atlas, and there seems to be printed text on the back side of the map, which would also suggest it is a plate from a book.

It might be worth opening it up to see if there is an engraver's or printer's name included in the margin, which is often the case. The information given by the rare maps dealer (in the link Debora provided) explains some of the history of the original printer, Jan Janssonius, and that his plates continued to be used by later printers.

"Janssonius died in Amsterdam in 1664. His son-in-law, Johannes van Waesbergen, took over his business. Eventually, many of Janssonius’ plates were sold to Gerard Valck and Pieter Schenk, who added their names and continued to reissue the maps."

If you open it you might also be able to tell if the paper is handmade, with laid and chain lines, or machine made, which would be another indication of possible date.

 

Thanks for the reply and link Debora,the size really seems almost spot on but not the colouring. Not sure that means.

 

Appreciate the comments and information. I agree I should probably open it to hopefully learn more. Thanks

 

They would have been individually hand-colored.

Debora

 

Understood but I was thinking they would have used the same colours on all of as a ‘standard’?

 

Different editions produced at different times may have used the same engraved plates, but different coloring (or no coloring).

 

Thank you. Makes sense

 

Yes, one would expect variations.

Debora