Antique Maps & Prints of Natural History, Botanicals, & More
Lot 5055:
Description
This exceptional folio map is from Gerard Mercator’s
Atlas sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura The atlas was published in Amsterdam in 1630 by Henricus Hondius. Each map features Latin text to verso. Mercator’s
Atlas was the first true “atlas”, a word chosen by Mercator himself to refer to a collection of maps which would be adopted by all later geographers.
Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) is one of the most famous cartographers. He created the Mercator projection for maps which had all parallels and meridians drawn at right angles to each other. This proved exceptionally useful to sailors allowing them to much more easily navigate. Mercator also introduced the term of "atlas", first used to describe his collection of maps gathered into one volume. Mercator is certainly best known for his maps and projections. Mercator was one the greatest names in early cartography, with his friend, Abraham Ortelius, describing Mercator as being the “contemporary Ptolemy”.
“Contrary to the maps in Abraham Ortelius’s
Theatrum orbis terrarium, Antwerp 1570, Mercator’s maps are original. Abraham Ortelius did what most of the atlas-makers of our time are engaged in: the reduction and generalisation of already existing maps. Gerard Mercator, with his sense of scientific word (which should be original and new) checked the current knowledge of the configuration of the earth’s topography against its fundamental sources and drew new maps in his original conception. This method of map-making took more time than it would have by mere copying. But he had not the intention to compete with Ortelius’s best-selling atlas.” (Koeman)
Henricus Hondius (1597-1651) was a Dutch engraver and mapmaker. He learned his trade from his father, Jodocus Hondius, an engraver and geographer. He was involved with the republishing of Mercator’s atlas as well. Henricus worked closed with his brother, Jodocus the younger, and took over their father’s engraving business. He would later start his own shop in 1621 where he would eventually partner with Jan Janssonius and continued publishing Mercator’s work where it would eventually be referred to as the Mercator-Hondius-Janssonius atlas.
Provenance: Philipp Wilhelm of Neuburg (1615-1690), Elector Palatine to the Jesuit college in Düsseldorf on March 1, 1636. Philipp Wilhelm received a Jesuit-influenced education and spent considerable time in Düsseldorf as a child (ex dono on title).
Paper Size: ~ 19" by 22 1/2" (Fold Out)
Paper Type or Special Features: Engraving
Condition report:
The work is in very good to excellent condition overall. There may be some faint offset due to the fold out nature of the plate. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks or fox marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
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