"Orbis Terrae Compendiosa Descriptio", Mercator, Rumold

Beautiful double hemisphere map surrounded in an elaborate strapwork border. Between the hemispheres are an armillary sphere and an elaborate compass rose. Rumold based the map on his fathers great world map of 1569. The North Pole is depicted as a landmass surrounding a sea from which four rivers radiate and there is a well depicted Northwest Passage. In the Antarctic is the imaginary southern continent and there is a bulge in the southwest coast of South America. The map embodies many ancient authorities and is a wonderful view of classical cartography. Cracks in the copper plate are visible in the title, indicating a later publication (French).

References: Shirley #157.

Condition: A

Professional tissue repair of marginal tears and paper replaced at upper right corner, well away from the map. Old color, recently refreshed.