Nobilis Hannoniae comitatus descrip. Auctore Jacobo Surhonio Montano.

Title

Nobilis Hannoniae comitatus descrip. Auctore Jacobo Surhonio Montano.

Map showing the province of Hainaut in Belgium with a title, mileage and coat of arms cartouche. After the very rare first edition of the Hainaut map by Abraham Ortelius.The history of this map is fascinating. It is based on a handwritten map by Jacques Surhon (1548), which was not published for security reasons. In 1572 Ortelius applied for the privilege to publish the map, but it was never granted. The plate was nevertheless engraved, and some prints (perhaps 100) of it appeared in the 1573-1575 editions of the Theatrum. This plate was then destroyed and a new plate engraved in 1579, when Antwerp was independent for a short time, with a privilege in 1579 at the top right. Van den Broecke: 69.

ca. 1579

Artist

Ortelius