[Title Page from Atlas Novus]

This decorative frontispiece was designed for inclusion in Johannes Jansson’s Atlantis Majoris Quinta Pars Orbem Maritimum, published in Amsterdam in 1657. Elaborate scenes represent the conquest of the world, via religion (top), commerce (lower left) and combat (lower right). Allegorical figures reinforce the theme of European superiority. According to Rumsey, “This is the first true sea atlas, published as the fifth volume of Jansson’s Atlas Novus. It consists of two parts, the Atlas Maritimus with 23 maps and a second part, the Atlas Antiquus with 10 maps. The title page does not show the title but does show the place of publication and the publisher and date.” Full example at David Rumsey Map Collection. Source: