*GERARD MERCATOR: AMERICA MERIDIONALIS: 1609*

Rare and highly sought-after map of South America by GERARD MERCATOR and JODOCUS HONDIUS.

Measures: 37 x 50 cm

This superb map of the South American continent features a cartouche of Cuzco, Peru. The eastern region of Brazilian territory is depicted as an island. Laco Parime, or Lake Parima, the legendary lake supposedly located in Guiana and home to the "Eldorado", is indicated. The Strait of Magellan is shown, with Tierra del Fuego connected to the great southern continent. The famous Moiré pattern by MERCATOR is used in the sea, and relief is shown pictorially. The map appears in the French edition of the Mercator-Hondius Atlas.

GERARD MERCATOR (1512-1594) was an exceptional mathematician and cartographer, globe maker, and engraver, best known for the "Mercator Projection". Incorporating the recently accepted fact that the planet is round, Mercator was able to render lines of longitude consistently straight on a chart. Though it requires some distortion, it was of great use to navigators and is historically important as it remains the most widely used projection today.

Originally created by Mercator, this plate was later added to by Hondius. Though the partnership was only indirect, Mercator and Hondius are one of the most important pairs in the history of cartography.

CONDITION: Despite evident restorations, with filling and addition of neutral PH paper support on the back, this map is very attractive and an excellent addition to a collection of South American cartography. The base value reflects the condition of the piece, given that a copy in ideal condition of this map is offered for around 1,800 euros in top European galleries.

A rare opportunity to own a piece of cartographic history!

ADDITIONAL INFO :

This is one of the earliest decorative maps of South America available. It was first published by Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612) for his first edition of Gerard Mercator's atlas in 1606. One of the more notable features of this map is the isolated nature of Brazil cut off by 'Eupana Lacus' with rivers extending to the north into the Amazon River and the Atlantic, and south into the Rio de la Plata. North of the Amazon is the mythical 'Parime Lacus', the reputed site of El Dorado. It would dominate maps of the continent for a long time. The Straits of Magellan are illustrated but not Cape Horn which would not be rounded for another decade. On the west coast the settlement of 'Castro Chilire' is the further south but is misplaced on the mainland. Founded in 1567, it is Chile's third oldest settlement and sits on the island of Chiloe. The tall figure of a Patagonian is placed to the east. A fine inset of a walled city of Cusco and an ornate title cartouche decorate the lower corners. The whole is finished with sea creatures, two European ships and a native canoe.The first part to Mercator's atlas was published in 1585 and expanded but at the time of his death in 1594 only two parts had been issued. It was continued by family members but remained incomplete at the edition in 1602. Throughout this period, it was competing with the highly successful atlas of Abraham Ortelius. By 1604 Hondius was flourishing, and in that year, he acquired all the plates from Mercator's descendants. He immediately set about engraving several new maps to augment and complete the work. He also had the original text expanded by Petrus Montanus. In the following year he brought out an edition of Mercator's Ptolemy, and in 1606 his first edition of the general atlas which proved instantly popular, selling out within a year.This example is from the French edition of 1633 entitled 'Atlas, ou Representation du Monde Universel'. Following Jodocus' death in 1612, the atlas continued to be published under his name by his widow (the editions of 1612-19). Then it was published by his sons Jodocus the younger (1594/5-1629)