The copper plates of the maps remained in the possession of an unknown patron who for some reason was unable to use them, perhaps due to an early death (thousands died of the plague in 1592–1593). The Paris publisher Jean Le Clerc was apparently able to acquire the plates in England and publish them in 1602. How Le Clerc managed to get hold of the plates is unknown. Given Jodcus Hondius's reputation, however, it is highly unlikely that he would have engraved these plates in Amsterdam using cartographic information that was already obsolete. He had already produced maps and globes in Amsterdam before 1602 that took into account the latest Portuguese maps by Luis Teixeira and the most recent discoveries of the English and Dutch explorers. Hence, the available facts suggest that Hondius had already engraved this set by 1590, before his departure from London.

Jean Le Clerc IV (c. 1560–1624), was from a long line of mapmakers, all called Jean Le Clerc: Jean Leclerc II (d. 1581) or Jean Leclerc III (d. 1599), and was eventually succeeded by his wife, Fremine Ricard. He spent most of his working life in Paris, although as a Huguenot he was forced to go to Tours for some time to escape persecution. He is best remembered for his atlas ‘Theatre Geographique du Royaume de France’, which was first published in 1594, but reprinted many times until 1631.

' world map ‘Typus Orbis Terrarum’ of 1587 (see SC-TM-1588-Ortelius-WorldMap) except for the decorative borders and the depiction of the tip of South America. As Ortelius’ map was relatively rare at the time, it is likely that Hondius acquired a copy through his many connections in the Southern Netherlands and London. 

The map itself is updated with recent source material available at that time, specifically new discoveries resulting from Drake's voyage around the world, which were only published by Richard Hakluyt in 1589. The map still shows a group of islands at the southern tip of South America, a drawing that Hondius omitted for the engraving of the Molyneux 

 (1592) in accordance with the later observations of Sir 

 (1586–1588) and Spanish explorers. There is still no trace of John Davis's voyages to the northwest (1585–1587). 

For the border decorations, Hondius also made use of the most current examples available at the time. The personifications of the four continents on the oval world map are simplified illustrations from a print series engraved by Philip Galle around 1590 after designs by Marcus Gheeraerts. The development of allegorical representations of the four continents had its roots in Antwerp, where Ortelius reproduced the earliest known depictions of the four continents on the title page of his 'Theatrum' (1570). In the last decade of the sixteenth century, various print series appeared that depicted the four continents, and because they relied on other sources, they offered an expanded view of such imagery in comparison to those of Ortelius. 

Jodocus Hondius (1563–1612) was one of the leading Dutch cartographers and engravers of his day. Between 1584 and 1593 he lived and worked in London where he took a particular interest in 

's voyages and the man himself, with several engravings of the explorer attributed to him. Hondius’ residence in London also bears witness to the close ties between the English and the Dutch at the time. Both were young seafaring nations who were eager to compete with Spain and Portugal for the resources of the 

This rare and intricately engraved world map is one of a set of seven maps 

 engraved when he was in London in the late 1580s but was not published for reasons unknown until 1602 by the Parisian firm of Jean Le Clerc.

The map is based on the work of 

 but updated with the most recent source material available at that time, specifically new discoveries resulting from 

's circumnavigation. The border decorations make use of the latest aesthetic trends; the personifications of the four continents on the oval world map are simplified illustrations from a print series engraved by Philip Galle around 1590 after designs by Marcus Gheeraerts.

This rare and exquisitely engraved world map is one of a set of seven maps 

 engraved when he was in London in the late 1580s, and one of two world maps re-issued by Jean Le Clerc. 

Double-page engraved copperplate map of the world, on an oval projection.

Hondius’ Oval World Map, printed by Jean le Clerc