SCOTIA REGNUM

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Stunning map of Scotland.

Originally issued in the 1595 Mercator atlas and thereafter appearing in Mercator/Hondius atlases of the early 17th century. This is trhe french text on verso edition.

Based on Mercator’s earlier map of the British Isles published in 1564, Scotland is shown in the more modern north-south orientation rather than the west-east view used by Ortelius and others. The map, which served as the standard cartographic reference until Robert Gordon’s version in 1654, shows a clear view of the country and includes the Herbrides and Orkney Islands and is decorated with a strap-work title cartouche.

Reinforced split in centre fold at bottom well away from printed surface.

Excellent hand colour.

Near mint condition.

References: Van der Krogt 1, 5800:1A.1.

From: Gerardi Mercatoris - Atlas sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura. Denuo auctus Editio Quinta. H. Hondius. 1623. (Van der Krogt 1, 105)

code : M5062

Cartographer : GERARD MERCATOR

Date : 1613 Amsterdam

Size : 35*41 cms

availability : Sold

Price : Sold

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Gerard MERCATOR

Originally a student of philosophy Gerard Mercator (1512-1594). He became an expert in land surveying and cartography, as well as a skilled engraver.His first maps were published in 1537 (Palestine), and 1538 (a map of the world), although his main occupation at this time was globe-making. He later moved to Duisburg, in Germany, where he produced his outstanding wall maps of Europe and of Britain. In 1569 he published his masterpiece, the twenty-one-sheet map of the world, constructed on what is now known as Mercator's projection.

It was during this period, while teaching cosmography at Duisburg, that Mercator realised the pressing need for a modern collection of maps to supersede the Ptolemaic atlases. This project was gradually expanded to be a complete description of the Universe, both heaven and earth, with other volumes on the Creation, Genealogy and History and a Chronology. The description of the earth was to be in two parts, a modern geography and a Ptolemaic atlas, a massive and over-ambitious project. In fact, only the Chronology and the Ptolemaic Geographia were completed in his lifetime, and it was left to his son, Rumold, to complete and publish the world atlas in 1595. Entitled Atlas, sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi, this was the first time the name "Atlas" was applied to a bound collection of maps, and, like Mercator's projection, has remained in everyday use to this day.

After Rumold's death in 1599, the plates for the atlas were published by Gerard Jr. Following his death in 1604, the printing stock was bought at auction by Jodocus Hondius, and re-issued well into the seventeenth century.

The Atlas Minor was reprinted,reengraved by many 16th century Dutch cartographers including Cloppenberg, Jansson etc.