"Islandia", Mercator/Cloppenburgh

This is the reduced version of Mercator's map of Iceland. Its cartography is based on the work of Icelandic bishop, cartographer, and mathematician Gudbrandur Thorlaksson. It features myriad place names, lakes, rivers, mountains, glaciers, and fiords. Mount Hekla is depicted in the midst of a fiery eruption. A strapwork cartouche at bottom left contains the title, another decorative cartouche in the opposite corner includes the distance scale, and a sea monster at top right completes the composition. Engraved by Pieter van den Keere. This example is a bifolium with Latin text on verso with relevant information on Iceland.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. III) #1250:353.1.

Condition: A

A nice impression original outline color, a tiny rust spot, and a faint damp stain that enters the image at top right.