Visscher Family

C.J.Visscher 1587-1652
Nicolas Visscher I 1618-79
Nicolas Visscher II 1649-1702
Elizabeth Visscher d.1726

For almost a century, the Visscher family were prominent art dealers and map publishers in Amsterdam. C.J.Visscher, the founder of the business, occupied premises near to both Pieter van den Keere and Jodocus Hondius. From around 1620 Visscher produced a series of individual maps including one of the British Isles. His first atlas however, was made up of maps printed, with some additions of his own, from plates bought from van den Keere. After Visscher died the business was carried on by his son, Nicolas Visscher I and his grandson, Nicolas Visscher II and together they published a large number of atlases which were continually revised and updated. Elizabeth Visscher, the widow of Nicolas Visscher II kept the business going until her death in 1726 when it was taken over by Pieter Schenk.

Common to all their work is the high quality of the engraving and decoration and the relative accuracy of their maps.