Gerard de JODE

Gerard de Jode (1509-1591) was a Dutch engraver, cartographer and publisher working in Antwerp, which had emerged as the centre of European map-making in the second half of the sixteenth century.  De Jode primarily published maps by other map-makers, by Gastaldi and Ortelius among others, but his ultimate target, and the one for which he is best known now, was the production of an atlas to compete with Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.

 

The competition between de Jode and Ortelius was intense, but the better-connected Ortelius was able to influence events - possibly even ensuring a denial of the necessary Royal Privilege for de Jode until 1577.  De Jode’s Speculum Orbis Terrarum was issued the next year.  The Speculum had to compete against the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, in its eighth year of publication and its sixteenth edition, and was unable to make any serious impression on the market-hold enjoyed by Ortelius.

 

De Jode commenced work on a second enlarged and revised edition, but died before it was completed.  His son, Cornelis, continued the work, which was published in 1593.  Although this edition sold better it was still not commercially viable and after Cornelis’ death the plates were bought by Johannes Baptist Vrients, who was publishing Ortelius’ Theatrum at this time, but he never reprinted De Jode’s atlas.

 

De Jode’s maps are appreciably rarer than those by Ortelius and are often better engravings, much of the work having been completed by the highly respected van Deutecum brothers.