The English edition of the Mercator-Hondius ‘Atlas’ contained some 20 new maps: eight in the first volume and 12 in the second. This dramatic revision was “greater than in any of the former editions of the atlas” (Koeman). Mercator’s maps of England, Scotland, and Ireland have been corrected and improved with new vignettes, and several others bear the imprint of Henricus Hondius. In the second volume one can see the rise of Janssonius within the publishing partnership with many of the regional maps of France, and many that previously bore Henricus Hondius’ name, now bearing Jansonnius’ imprint.

The present work would remain the only folio atlas produced by the great publishing houses of Janssonius and Blaeu to bear English text. The text was translated by Henry Hexham (1585?-1650), an English soldier and military writer who saw active service during the numerous Dutch campaigns of the early seventeenth century. It would appear that Hexham not only saw service, but also took up residence in Holland and became personally acquainted with both the then Prince of Orange, Prince Maurice of Nassau, and his brother Frederick Henry.

The present example conforms to Koeman Me 41B, with the title in the first volume printed on an overslip, which is pasted over the French title, although not the French imprint.