"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. Many places of interest are named, and the settlements are fairly well located. The map is decorated with a strapwork title cartouche, a sea monster, and a distance scale topped with dividers. French text on verso, published in 1609 or 1619.

References: Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #1250:1A.

Condition: B

A dark impression on a toned sheet with a coat of arms watermark, light foxing, and a tiny tear in the bottom margin, well away from the image.