circa 1627
Copper engraving in old color.
On the back, description in Latin.
Mercator, writer, astronomer and mathematician is considered the inventor of the cartographic projection which bears his name and his atlases established his fame. Mercator's sons and grandsons, all cartographers, continued his work and made various contributions to his atlas. The brass cards were bought in 1604 by Jodocus Hondius who, along with his sons, Jodocus II and Henricus, published expanded editions which dominated the card market for the next two decades.
Copper: 338 x 500
Sheet: 400 x 545