"America sive India Nova ad magnae Gerardi Mercatoris aui Uiniversalis imitationem in compendium redacta", Mercator, Michael

This is the only know printed map attributed to Michael Mercator, grandson of Gerard. The stunning map of the Americas is based on Rumold Mercator's world map of 1587, but includes more detail. It is beautifully engraved with a floral design surrounding the map. Insets include the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba, and Haiti. There is a large inland lake in Canada, and the St Lawrence River extends nearly halfway across the continent with no Great Lakes. There is a bulge in the west coast of South America. The large southern continent extends above the Tropic of Capricorn in the Pacific where there is a very large island of New Guinea. Above North America there are two of the four islands of the North Pole, with the great mythical rivers flowing from the pole. No text on verso.

References: Burden #87.

Condition: B

The map has been trimmed inside the outer neatline and remargined with neatline in facsimile. Some restoration along centerfold. An extremely skilled conservator did this restoration and is only discernable when held up to strong light.