The Archipelago of Greece.

Visscher, Nicolaes The Archipelago, Greece. "Exactissima totius Arhipelagi nec non Græciæ Tabula in qua omnes subjacentes Regiones et Insulæ distincte ostennduntur per Nicolaum Vissche Amstelo- Batm.r" Amsterdam Visscher, Nicolaes , "in de Visscher, Klaverstraat" circa 1680
Copper engraved map of Greece and the Archipelago by Nicolaes Visscher. Original full wash colour; verso blank.
The map shows the peninsular of Greece with the islands of the Archipelago in the Aegean sea; part of Asia minor to the right. Decorative title cartouche, surmounted by the god Apollo [ original colour]; engraved texts beside many of the islands highlighting important towns and sites Good impression; light even toning; some foxing and damp staining mainly to to blank margins; short centre fold split at upper margin, old repair to verso; light stain at upper centre fold; short split at lower centre fold [repaired].

Nicolaes Visscher, 1618-1679
Nicolaes Visscher took over the business of his late father Claes Janszoon Visscher in 1652, and went on to publish his "Atlas Contractus Orbis Terrarum " in 1657. He produced a number of world maps not just for the Atlas but also to be inserted in Bibles.


The Visscher family were prominent Dutch map publishers for nearly a century.
Claes Jansz Visscher ( 1587 - 1652 ) established the firm in Amsterdam near the offices of Pieter van den Keer and Jadocus Hondius. Many hypothesize that he may have been one of Hondius's pupils
The first Visscher maps appear around 1620 and include numerous individual maps as well as an atlas compiled of maps by various cartographers including Visscher himself.
Upon the death of Claes, the firmpassed to Nicholas Visscher I, and would, in turn, eventually be passed on to his son, Nicholas Visscher II.
Most of the maps bearing the Visscher imprint were produced by these two men.
Many Visscher maps also bear the imprint Piscator (a Latinized version of Visscher) and often feature the image of an elderly fisherman.
Upon the death of Nicholas Visscher II, the business was carried on by the widowed Elizabeth Visscher until it was eventually sold to Peter Schenk.
Zacharakis 3627/2350. 475 by 570mm (18¾ by 22½ inches).   ref: 2494  €800