"Islandia", Mercator, Gerard

This important map first appeared in the 1595 edition of Mercator's Atlas. It is similar to Ortelius' map of Iceland (issued five years earlier) and is based on the same source - that of Bishop Gudbrandur Thorláksson. Although the map is far from accurate, it is a marked improvement on earlier maps in both content and execution. The island is depicted with its vast mountains, glaciers and fiords and the eruption in Hekla. The settlements are fairly well located and many places of interest are named. The map is decorated with a strapwork title cartouche, a sea monster and a distance scale topped with dividers. French text on verso, published between 1628 and 1635 by Henicus Hondius.

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Condition: B+

Lightly toned with slightly faded old color and very wide blank margins. Some foxing and staining in margins.