Antique Maps Leen Helmink Antique map of North Pole / Arctic by Mercator Click here or on the image for a high resolution photo or scan. MAKER Mercator TITLE Septentrionalium Terrarum descriptio PLACE ISSUED Duisburg FIRST EDITION 1595 THIS EDITION 1611 SIZE (hxw cms) 36.5 x 39.2 AREA SHOWN North Pole / Arctic TECHNIQUE Copper engraving COLOURING or.col. CONDITION The overall quality of this antique map is very good DESCRIPTION The most spectacular and sought-after map of the North Pole. Gerard Mercator's spectacular map of the North Pole. Elements from Medieval sources are combined with the latest explorations by the English and the Dutch. In this second state Barentsz's discoveries have been included. The magnetic Pole is depicted as a rock near the strait of Anian. Separate insets with the mythical island of Frysland, the Shetlands and the Faroer. The land of Gog is situated in North-East Tartaria. California is situated above the Arctic circle: "Califormia regio / Sola fama Hispanis nota" (sic!). "The author of this map, Gerard Mercator, died in December 1594; it was left to his son Rumold to publish it in the last of the three parts that formed his father's famous atlas, the 'Atlantis Pars Altera'. This is the first map devoted to the Arctic, a hemispherical one on a North Polar projection with an attractive floral design surrounding it. In the corners are four roundels, one of these contains the title, the other three contain maps of the Faeroe Isles, the Shetland Isles and the mythical island of Frisland. The map is largely derived from the inset of the same area on his great world map of 1569. Here, however, its scope is enlarged to the latitude of 60 degrees; this enabled him to depict the recent attempts at finding the North West and North East Passages. The results of Frobisher's and Davis' attempts are recorded, largely derived from Cornelis Claesz's map of the previous year, or possibly Mercator had seen an example of the Emery Molineux globe produced in London, 1592. 'Califormia' is identified as Spanish territory and 'El streto de Anian' is clearly shown. The pole itself is made up of our surrounding islands, which myth had it were separated by four strong flowing rivers. These carried the oceans of the world towards a giant whirlpool at the pole where there stood a large rock. Fortunately for us there survives an account of this myth in Mercator's own hand. John Dee of London had written to him inquiring as to what he based his cartography on. Mercator's reply is reproduced in 'Imago Mundi' 13. There was one further edition of the atlas in Duisburg in 1602. In 1604 the plates were sold to Jodocus Hondius who updated the plate with new information. This second state was published in his first edition in Amsterdam 1606. It continued to be used until being replaced in 1636 with a map by Henricus Hondius." (Burden 88). Burden 88 State 2. Moreland & Bannister p96. Nordenskiöld p95 Pl.60. Wolff 105. Bagrow XCIV. Portinaro Plate LIX. Koeman Me map 79, this example from Koeman Me27A map (7). GUARANTEE We do not sell reproductions. We guarantee that this is a genuine and original antique map that was published on or near the given date. A certificate of authentication is provided on request. Price € 3250 Antique Maps Leen Helmink