Jodocus Hondius I

Jodocus Hondius was the founder of the Hondius publishing house, one of the most successful firms in Amsterdam. He taught famous cartographers such as Abraham Goos.

From 1584, Hondius worked in London and became fascinated with the voyages of Sir Francis Drake. In 1595, Hondius created a double-hemisphere world map, which documented Drake’s circumnavigation of the globe.

Hondius purchased Gerard Mercator’s engraved plates in 1604. From 1609 he built a successful career publishing a Mercator-Hondius atlas.

After his death in 1612, Hondius’ widow, Colette van den Keere and his two sons, Jodocus Hondius II, and Henricus Hondius continued the publishing house. In 1621, Jodocus II split with his brother. Henricus continued his father’s business with Johannes Janssonius.

By 1629, the Blaeu family were serious competitors and the Hondius firm lost their monopoly on cartographic publishing.