This
fine beautifully hand coloured original antique map
of Central Asia, China & Eastern Russia with a very
early view of the NW coast of America - one of the first maps to depict
this region - by Gerard
Mercator was published by Joducus
Hondius in the 1609 French edition of Mercators Atlas.
Background:
A beautifully ornate map in a style highly popular in
the 16th and early 17th centuries. To the left of the
map is the image of a man of Central Asia and another of
an Arctic Hunter, possibly an Eskimo. The rest of the
map is full of detail both real and myth, some of which
is no doubt borrowed from the writings of Marco Polo
considered at the time one of the foremost expert on
China and Central Asia. Overlooked by some experts is
the inclusion of the NW Coastline of America important
as it would be 150 years before this region was
thoroughly mapped by Capt. James Cook in the 1770's.
The newly discovered northern coastline of Nova Zembla
is shown with a notation concerning the Dutch expedition
led by Willem Barents in 1594-96. Interesting notations
in Siberia, Ung quae Gog and Sumongul quae Mogog,
refer to the mythological lands of Gog and Magog. These
lands, noted in the Bible as being situated in the
remotest parts of the earth, were originally depicted on
maps just north of Israel. Also shown is the Great Wall
of China, Korea is depicted as an Island, a
very early example of the the Northwest Coast of
America, naming Cape de Fortuna and the Straits of Anian.
The map extends west to include the Black Sea and
Russia, but the primary focus of the map is Tartaria,
Central Asia China and Asiatic Russia. Decorative vignettes in
include a nomadic tribe, tents and livestock. An early
map of the region and certainly one of the most
decorative of the genre.
Jodocus
Hondius (1563 - 1612), one of the most notable
engravers of his time, is known for his work in
association with many of the cartographers and
publishers prominent at the end of the sixteenth and the
beginning of the seventeenth century.
In 1604
Hondius bought the plates of Mercator's Atlas which, in
spite of its excellence, had not competed successfully
with the continuing demand of Abraham Ortelius's
Theatrum Orbis
Terrarum.
To meet this competition Hondius added about 40 maps to
Mercator's original number and from 1606 published
enlarged editions in many languages, still under
Mercator's name but with his own name as publisher.
These atlases have become known as the Mercator/Hondius
series. The following year the maps were re-engraved in
miniature form and issued as a pocket
Atlas Minor.
After the death of Jodocus Hondius the Elder in 1612,
work on the two atlases, folio and miniature, was
carried on by his widow and sons, Jodocus II and
Henricus, and eventually in conjunction with Jan Jansson
in Amsterdam. In all, from 1606 onwards, nearly 50
editions with increasing numbers of maps with texts in
the main European languages were printed.
(Ref: Koeman; M&B; Tooley)
Condition Report:
Paper
thickness and quality: - Heavy, stained & weak in places
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Yellow, pink, green
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 23in x 19in (580mm x 480mm)
Plate size: - 19 1/2in x 13 1/2in (490mm x 340mm)
Margins: - Min 1in (25mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - Uniform age toning
Plate area: - None
Verso: - Uniform age toning
If you wish to discuss this or any other item
please email or call...Simon
61 (0) 409 551910 Tel
simon@classicalimages.com
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