Title of the map:

"TURCICI IMPERII IMAGO"

Unusual large antique copper engraved map of the Ottoman empire, by Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) & Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612), 17th Century. 

The map is decorated with a portrait of Sultan Mehmed II, who conquered Constantinople and brought an end to the Byzantine Empire. The map extends from the Balkan peninsula through the Caspian Sea in the north and from Northern Africa through the Arabian peninsula in the south. The regions are divided in a similar manner to Ortelius' map of the area. The coastlines of the Red Sea are exaggerated, as are the number and size of the islands. The Red Sea is given four different names: Marre de Mecca, Bohar Corsum, Mare Rubrum and Sinus Arabicus. Hondius did not use the name Persian Gulf but the two names Mare Elcatif and Sinus Arabicus. It is the first time that the latter name was used to designate the gulf in question. The strait which is now called the Strait of Hormuz is labelled Basora fertum. 

Size with margins : 52 x 40,2 cm / 20,4 x 15,7 inches

Edition : Amsterdam, 1628, 17th Century, French edition (ref Koeman)

Condition : good condition, a small renfort on the back in the left margin, light wear mark on the center of the map, old colors.

Edited by Henricus Hondius, in "Gerardi Mercatoris - Atlas sive Cosmographicae de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura".

This atlas is the most important of Mercator’s atlases, whose maps were published in separate works from 1585. In 1604, ten years after the death of Mercator, Hondius bought the brass, and completed the atlas over the editions.

The first edition of the Mercator-Hondius atlas was published with a Latin text in 1606. 

Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) was a Flemish mathematician and geographer. He gave its name to a system of statistical projection in which meridians are represented by parallel lines, equidistant, and parallels, by lines perpendicular to meridians. His master, in 1530 at the University of Leuven, was the astronomer and cartographer Frisius, who introduced him to the construction of globes. In 1537, Mercator drew up a map of the Holy Land and, the following year, published his first map of the world. In 1541, on behalf of Charles V, he built two globes, terrestrial and celestial. He then settled in Duisburg in 1552. There, he drew a great map of Europe and worked to build the projection to which his name remained attached. He published in 1569, in the projection of Mercator, the first major map of the world for the use of navigators. In 1578 he published Tabulae Geographicae ad mentem Cl. Ptolemaei, and worked on the composition of a great geographical work, which appeared in 1585 under the title of: Atlas, sive cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mundi et fabricati figura, 1585, and which, completed, was reissued in 1595, after his death, by the care of his sons, Rumold and Arnold. The brass of his Atlas was then used by Judocus Hondius. Gerard Mercator is one of the most famous geographers of his time. He is responsible for the projection used in nautical charts. He was also the first to use the word 'atlas', referring to a mythical astronomer king of Libya who built the first celestial globe. 

Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612), also called Josse de Hond or sometimes Jodocus Hondius the Elder to distinguish him from his son, is a Flemish artist, engraver and cartographer. He is known for his maps of the New World and Europe, for restoring the interest of the works of Gerardus Mercator, as well as for his portraits of Francis Drake (1540-1596). He contributed to the establishment of Amsterdam as a centre of cartography in Europe in the 17th century.

After the death of Hondius in 1612, his two sons Jodocus II and Henricus take over the company and publish again the Mercator atlas. After 1633, the son-in-law of Jodocus Hondius, Johannes Janssonius, is also listed as co-editor of the atlas.

If you buy more than one item, you have to pay just one only shipping cost. We will send your item by Registered and Insured Airmail or by DHL with covering insurance. Customs may be charged on international shipments. All customs charges are the responsiblity of the buyer and are not included in the selling price.

A Certification of Authenticity can be issued on request.

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WE DON'T SELL LASER AND COPIES MAPS, ALL WE SELL IS ORIGINAL AND ANTIQUE.

Due to the age an type of paper, some imperfections are to be expected. Please examine the images provided carefully, and if you have any questions please ask and we will be happy to help you.