HONDIUS J., "Ελλας. GRAECIA SOPHIANI /Abrahami Ortelii antuerpiensis", 1638. Hand-coloured copper engr. map, depiction of ancient Greece, western Turkey and the Grecian islands based on the influential woodcut map prepared by the great Greek Hellenist and cartographer Nikolaus Sophianos (Νικόλαος Σοφιανός) and printed in Basel, 1545 (or in Rome 1542). The Sophianos map of Greece, was established as a model for the Geographic depiction of Greece, and has been issued for more than 150 years after the first issue, until 1699. The current map issued by Hondius in “Nouveau Theatre du Monde”, is based on the Ortelius’ 1579 edition of Sophianos map. In the current copy, the name of Hondius and the date have been erased from the plate (next to the title cartouche). Map dim.50x36cm. French text on verso. Sunning, small marginal paper reinforcement on reverse. Zacharakis 1667.