description Gerard de Jode Overview
Gerard de Jode (1509–1591) was a 16th-century Flemish cartographer, engraver, and publisher based in Antwerp. He is best known for his 1578 atlas, Speculum Orbis Terrarum, created to compete with Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Although his maps were geographically detailed, the atlas did not achieve the same commercial success as his rival's during his lifetime. His original plates and maps are studied today by collectors and Renaissance historians.
help Gerard de Jode FAQ
What atlas did Gerard de Jode publish?
Gerard de Jode published Speculum Orbis Terrarum in Antwerp in 1578. It was a major two-volume atlas produced through his work as a cartographer, engraver, and publisher.
Why is Gerard de Jode associated with Abraham Ortelius?
De Jode's Speculum Orbis Terrarum was designed to compete with Abraham Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Ortelius's atlas had appeared earlier, in 1570.
Did Gerard de Jode's son continue the atlas project?
Yes, his son Cornelis de Jode continued the family publishing business. Cornelis issued a new edition known as Speculum Orbis Terrae in 1593.
Why are copies of Speculum Orbis Terrarum relatively rare?
The atlas did not achieve the same market success as Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. As a result, surviving copies of the 1578 work are much less common in major map collections.
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