This is a reduced version of the second state of Mercator's famous North Pole map. It depicts the region between the pole and the Arctic Circle. This is one of the most intriguing early maps, combining medieval geographic concepts with some of the most advanced cartography of its day. The North Pole is shown as a rocky island surrounded by 'in-drawing seas' between four huge islands. The map shows an awareness of recent discoveries, including those of Frobisher and Davis, as well as the northern sea passage through America to Asia. It is a striking example of baroque engraving, with the map set off by the roundel title cartouche and inset maps of the Faeroes, the Shetlands, and the mythical Frisland in the corners, and framed by a border of interlocking acanthus designs.

This map comes from Samuel Purchas' Purchas His Pilgrimes, a compendium of voyages to foreign countries that included Jodocus Hondius' copperplates from Atlas Minor. The map is printed on a full sheet of English text (8.4 x 12.4") with "Hondius his Map of the Arctike Pole, or Northerne World" outside top border. There is a map of Prussia on verso.

See also lot 700 for Philip Burden's The Mapping of North America - A List of Printed Maps 1511-1670 that describes this map.

References: Burden #154; Kershaw #28; Van der Krogt (Vol. III) #0020:351.

Condition: A

A dark impression on a sheet with minor marginal soiling and two archivally repaired tears in the bottom margin.