Jan Jansson

Jan Jansson was born at Arnhem in 1596 and died in Amsterdam in 1664, he produced fine atlases and decorative maps (which included the English and Welsh counties), these were often handsomely coloured.

These maps were published in various languages and in many editions between 1638 and 1657. After Jansson's death the maps were re-published by Valk and Schenk towards the end of the 17th century, from about 1683.

Jansson's maps were often copied from Blaeu, but were of excellent quality, and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them.

With his brother-in-law, Henricus Hondius, who had acquired the plates of Mercator's atlas, he issued the Atlas Major in a number of editions culminating in a set of eleven volumes.

He also published various sea charts and town plans.