Jodocus Hondius (1563 - 1612)

Hondius senior was born in Wakken and grew up in Ghent. He was an engraver, instrument maker and globe maker. In 1584 he moved to London to escape the religious persecution in Flanders. In 1593 he moved to Amsterdam and the publisher Cornelis Claesz. in 1604 he purchased the engraving plates for the Mercator’s Atlas. Hondius republished Mercator’s work with 36 additional maps, including several which he himself had produced. Despite the addition of his own contributions, Hondius gave Mercator full credit as the author of the work, listing himself as the publisher. Hondius’ new edition of Mercator’s work was a great success. From 1605 and 1610 he engraved the maps for John Speed’s, The Theatre of the Empire of Great Britaine.

After his death, the business was continued by his widow, two sons, Jodocus II and Henricus, and son-in-law Johannes Janssonius, whose name appears on the Atlas after 1633.