Old Map of Europe / Carte de Europa
Price range: £35.55 through £59.95
by Jodocus Hondius, early 17th century
A richly decorative old map of Europe by Jodocus Hondius, titled Nova Europae Descriptio Auctore Iodoco Hondio. This early seventeenth-century map shows Europe in the grand Dutch atlas style, with sailing ships, sea creatures, ornate cartouches, finely engraved coastlines and warm hand colouring.
From the British Isles and Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, Muscovy, the Black Sea and western Asia, the map is filled with detail that rewards close inspection. As a wall print, it has strong decorative appeal for a study, library, hallway, office or travel-inspired interior.
Every print is produced in our Cornwall workshop using archival pigment inks on textured fine art paper. We are a small business, not a poster warehouse, and we take personal care with every order. We will never supply a finished map that we would not be happy to hang in our own home.Printed to order in our Cornwall workshop, this historic Europe map makes a distinctive fine art print for a study, library, hallway, office or travel-inspired interior.
- Direct from the publisher — no middlemen
- Printed in-house in Cornwall
- Free UK delivery — international shipping available
- Produced to meet — and often exceed — museum-quality standards
Fine Art Map Reproductions – Museum-Quality Printing
Unlike most online offerings, our maps are produced entirely in-house, not outsourced to print-on-demand or drop-shipping services. This allows complete control over quality while offering better value. Each map begins with a high-resolution original, carefully enhanced and printed to order using archival papers and pigment inks for exceptional clarity, depth, and longevity. Every piece is personally overseen — no map leaves our workshop unless it is of a quality we would be proud to display ourselves.
Authentic Old Map Paper & Accurate Colour Reproduction
Paper choice is essential to the authenticity of our maps. We use specially sourced 190gsm paper made in the UK from pure materials and traditionally pressed with natural woollen felts. This process creates a subtle, randomly textured surface that closely resembles an original antique document. Likewise the use of premium quality ink fully saturates the paper, producing remarkable clarity, depth, and historical character. Colour fastness and sharpness will remain good for in excess of 100 years!
Buy Old Maps Online in the UK Today Trading online since 1999
The Old Map Company of Great Britain offers a vast and carefully curated collection of the very finest expertly reproduced vintage maps. Our range includes works by renowned cartographers such as John Speed and Willem Blaeu, covering Scotland, England, and beyond. Free UK courier delivery is included, with EU, USA, and worldwide shipping available at cost and calculated at checkout. If you need assistance, our team is always happy to help you choose the perfect map.
RECENT REVIEWS
Verified ownerGot there in time and loves it! Cheers David [Gift from US to UK]
Verified ownerThanks Lauren. We received it today - it's gorgeous! Thank you, Ellan
Verified ownerThank you for your prompt service. I have a gallery and framing business in South Wales. I'm so pleased it is printed in the UK
Verified ownerMy Isles of Scilly map arrived safely and I'm delighted with it!
The print arrived safely and we're delighted with it - a lovely reminder of our honeymoon 15 years ago.
Verified ownerI have just received them! I'm sure our clients will be pleased with them and there could be more projects off the back of this one where we can use more. [Interior Designers]
Verified ownerI just received my map of Ireland by Ewart today and, as usual, I am delighted by its quality. The crispness and fineness of detail is excellent and the colour reproduction surpasses my expectations. Please relay my thanks to Steve for another fine effort!
Verified ownerMany thanks, Lauren. Very pleased with the map and the service: would recommend The Old Map Company to anyone interested in Old Maps.
Verified ownerMany thanks, the map arrived safely this morning, and I’m really pleased with it. A stunning reproduction, just as I had hoped. I will keep browsing your website, and may yet be tempted by more of your items! Have a great weekend.
Verified ownerJust arrived, wonderful map! Thanks very much!
Verified ownerThe map – beautiful – arrived safely, very many thanks.
Verified ownerThank you, I have already found the map. It’s wonderfull! Good luck! Rasa
Verified ownerMy apologies for the very late reply. I wanted to reach out to thank you so much for rushing my order. My partner absolutely loved it. I am amazed with the service so that is a five-star from me. I wish you all the best.
Historical background
This richly decorative old map of Europe belongs to the great age of Dutch atlas publishing, when Amsterdam was one of the most important centres of mapmaking in the world. The title cartouche identifies the map as Nova Europae Descriptio Auctore Iodoco Hondio — a new description of Europe by Jodocus Hondius, one of the leading figures in the Mercator-Hondius publishing tradition.
The map presents Europe as it was understood in the early seventeenth century, extending from the Atlantic coast and the British Isles across Scandinavia, central Europe, the Mediterranean, Muscovy, the Black Sea and western Asia. Greenland and the northern seas appear prominently, reflecting the period’s continuing fascination with exploration, trade routes and the wider world beyond Europe.
What makes this map especially appealing is the combination of geographical detail and decorative artistry. The seas are animated with sailing ships and sea creatures, while the land is filled with towns, rivers, forests, mountains and regional divisions. Ornate cartouches, elegant lettering and hand-coloured borders give the piece the visual richness associated with the finest Dutch maps of the period.
As a wall print, it works beautifully both as a historic document and as a decorative piece. It has enough detail to reward close study, but also enough colour and balance to make an immediate impression in a study, library, hallway or office.
Reproduced as a fine art print, this is a particularly handsome example of early seventeenth-century European cartography — rich in history, full of decorative character, and produced to the outstanding quality expected from The Old Map Company.You may also like…
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