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| Indiae Orientalis Nova Descriptio |
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This beautifully engraved original and very significant antique map of SE Asia, the East Indies PNG was published in the rare English edition of Mercator's Atlas published by Henricus Hondius and Jan Jansson in 1636.
This landmark map is the first published record of the discoveries made by the Dutch ship "Dufken" on route to Cape York in Australia.
New Guinea ("Landt vande Papuos") is marked the (Is)land next to it is called ÔNieu ZeelandtÕ and the island Duyfkens is named after the ship ÔDuyfkenÕ.
With the first publication of this map 27 years had passed since the voyage of the Dufken and its discoveries of PNG and NW Australia had been completed. The Dutch East India Company had suppressed the discoveries until it was sure how profitable or not Australia would be.
When Jansson & Hondius first published this map in 1630 it is believed the information was leaked from the Blaeu firm - the official cartographers to the Dutch East India Company - and surprisingly Blaeu did not publish a similar map for another two years. It must have been galling for Blaeu to have known of the discoveries for nearly thirty years and be beaten to publication by his fiercest rival Jansson & Hondius.
This is an incredibly significant map for the SE Asia, PNG and Australian region being the first published with real first hand knowledge which before had been mostly speculation or second hand knowledge.
This English edition of Mercator's Atlas was published by Jan Jansson & Henricus Hondius, as there were so few of these atlases published in English they are now understandably scarce.
The text running for two pages on the back of the map generally describes the region or country name, history (as it was), temperature, seasons, soil and agricultural productivity. Also described is the topography, wildlife, local inhabitants their culture and religion, as well as a description of major European and local towns and cities. This text makes extremely enjoyable reading and a very good insight not only into the area described but the general European attitudes towards alien countries and cultures.
The text running for two pages on the back of the map generally describes the region or country name, history (as it was), temperature, seasons, soil and agricultural productivity. Also described is the topography, wildlife, local inhabitants their culture and religion, as well as a description of major European and local towns and cities. This text makes extremely enjoyable reading and a very good insight not only into the area described but the general European attitudes towards alien countries and cultures. (Ref: Koeman; M&B; Tooley)
Please note all items auctioned are genuine, we do not sell reproductions. A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) can be issued on request. |
| Condition Report |
Condition Report:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: - Later
Colors used: - Yellow, pink, green
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 22 1/2in x 18 1/2in (570mm x 470mm)
Plate size: - 20in x 16in (510mm x 405mm)
Margins: - Min 1in (25mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - Uniform age toning, bottom centerfold re-joined, no loss
Plate area: - Uniform age toning, light offsetting
Verso: - Uniform age toning
Overall Quality (in Bold):
Perfect/Fine/Very Good/Good/Fair/Poor |
| Gerard Mercator (Kremer) 1512-94 |
 For nearly sixty years, during the most important and exciting period in the story of modern map making, Gerard Mercator was the supreme cartographer, his name, second only to Ptolemy, synonymous with the form of map projection still in use today. Although not the inventor of this type of projection he was the first to apply it to navigational charts in such a form that compass bearings could be plotted on charts in straight lines, thereby providing seamen with a solution to an age-old problem of navigation at sea. His influence transformed land surveying and his researches and calculations led him to break away from Ptolemy's conception of the size and outline of the Continents, drastically reducing the longitudinal length of Europe and Asia and altering the shape of the Old World as visualized in the early sixteenth century.
Mercator was born in Rupelmonde in Flanders and studied in Louvain under Gemma Frisius, Dutch writer, astronomer and mathematician. He established himself there as a cartographer and instrument and globe maker, and when he was twenty-five drew and engraved his first map (of Palestine) and went on to produce a map of Flanders (1540) supervising the surveying and completing the drafting and engraving himself. The excellence of his work brought him the patronage of Charles V for whom he constructed a globe, but in spite of his favor with the Emperor he was caught up in the persecution of Lutheran Protestants and charged with heresy, fortunately without serious consequences. No doubt the fear of further persecution influenced his move in 1552 to Duisburg, where he continued the production of maps, globes and instruments culminating in large-scale maps of Europe (1554), the British Isles (1564) and the famous World Map on 18 sheets drawn to his new projection (1569). All these early maps are exceedingly rare, some being known by only one copy.
In later life he devoted himself to his edition of the maps in Ptolemy's Geographia, reproduced in his own engraving as nearly as possible in their original form, and to the preparation of his 3-volume collection of maps to which, for the first time, the word 'Atlas' was applied. The word was chosen, he wrote, 'to honor the Titan, Atlas, King of Mauritania, a learned philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer' . The first two parts of the Atlas were published in 1585 and 1589 and the third, with the first two making a complete edition, in 1595 the year after Mercator's death.
Mercator's sons and grandsons were all cartographers and made their contributions in various ways to the great atlas. Rumold, in particular, was responsible for the complete edition in 1595. After a second complete edition in 1602, the map plates were bought in 1604 by Jodocus Hondius who, with his sons, Jodocus II and Henricus, published enlarged editions which dominated the map market for the following twenty to thirty years.
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| Shipping |
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| *Courier #2: Available for all items 11in x 8 1/2in (280mm x 215mm) or smaller flat or folded along original folds
Airmail shipping from Australia to Europe or the US takes approx. 5-7 days. EMS courier will take 3-5 days.
There will be only one shipping charge per 10 maps or prints purchased. We can hold items to combine shipments.
Please note, as an added measure of security all purchases over $500US will now be automatically sent by courier | |
Classical Images was founded 1998 and has built an excellent reputation for supplying high quality original antiquarian works on paper at affordable prices. We carry an extensive inventory of antiquarian collectibles from the 15th to 19th century, a period that produced achievements by some of history s finest explorers, scientists and artists.
Classical Images adheres to the Codes of Ethics outlined by the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) .
We are enthusiastic collectors ourselves of Antiquarian treasures and are happy to share our knowledge, discuss issues and provide information and assistance, both in general and about items we offer for sale.
All items sold by Classical Images are genuine and a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) will be happily supplied on request.
Thank you
Simon & Andrea Mayers
Classical Images
61-3-9497 2845 Tel
61-3-94972895 Fax
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