"Ins. Ceilan quae Incolis Tenarisin Dicitur", Mercator/Hondius

This exquisite, early map of Sri Lanka is shown with an unusual five-sided shape. North is oriented to the left by an elaborate compass rose. The map was beautifully engraved by Petrus Plancius with pictorial detail of mountains, roads, forests, villages, kingdoms, mines, stupas and spice plantations. It is embellished with three strapwork cartouches and further adorned with a finely rendered sailing ship and animals roaming the interior (including a large elephant with his manhout). This is the second state with updated cartouches, and with the elephant facing right rather than left. French text on verso, published between 1639-49.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #8380:1A.2.

Condition: A

Superb original color on a bright, clean sheet with wide margins and an extraneous crease adjacent to centerfold.