1609 Mercator Hondius Map of Asia - Asia ex magna Orbis Start Price USD 2,075.00 Current Price USD 2,075.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, December 02, 2008 End Time Sunday, December 07, 2008 Location (Worldwide Shipping From Melbourne Australia) See more about '1609 Mercator Hondius Map of Asia - Asia ex magna Orbis' Description Helpful Links: Company Details - About ME Payment & Shipping Options View seller's other items Cartographer's Profile Ask Seller a question Refund Policy About Classical Images We have over 2,000 items for sale on our Ebay stores site. Please click here to enter the stores and use the search engine to the left to search specifically for maps, prints, Atlases on the Classical Images Stores, thank you   Click Here   Asia ex magna Orbis terre descriptione Gerardi Mercatoris click to enlarge click to enlarge This finely engraved beautifully hand coloured original map of Asia was published in the 1609 French edition of Mercators Atlas published by Henricus Hondius and Jan Jansson. This map is from the original plate of Asia first published by Gerard Mercator in 1595. It was not until 1633 did Hondius discontinue this map for a more contemporary one. The map detail is borrowed from Abraham Ortelius who published an almost identical map in 1570. Japan is depicted as oval shaped with a chain of islands to the south, despite the inclusion of a much more accurate map in the same atlas; an island marked "Polus Magnetis" appears just above the Straits of Anian, away from a polar landmass; and north-west America appears, with two towns within the kingdom of "Quivera". Parts of western New Guinea and parts of NE & NW Australia are included bottom right. This map is in magnificent condition with fresh strong paper, heavy impression and fine early hand colouring. Jodocus Hondius (1563 - 1612), one of the most notable engravers of his time, is known for his work in association with many of the cartographers and publishers prominent at the end of the sixteenth and the beginning of the seventeenth century. In 1604 Hondius bought the plates of Mercator's Atlas which, in spite of its excellence, had not competed successfully with the continuing demand of the Ortelius Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. To meet this competition Hondius added about 40 maps to Mercator's original number and from 1606 published enlarged editions in many languages, still under Mercator's name but with his own name as publisher. These atlases have become known as the Mercator/Hondius series. The following year the maps were re-engraved in miniature form and issued as a pocket Atlas Minor. After the death of Jodocus Hondius the Elder in 1612, work on the two atlases, folio and miniature, was carried on by his widow and sons, Jodocus II and Henricus, and eventually in conjunction with Jan Jansson in Amsterdam. In all, from 1606 onwards, nearly 50 editions with increasing numbers of maps with texts in the main European languages were printed. (Ref: Koeman; M&B; Tooley) Please note all items auctioned are genuine, we do not sell reproductions. A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) can be issued on request.    Condition Report Condition Report: Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable Paper color: - off white Age of map color: - Early Colors used: - Yellow, pink, green General color appearance: - Authentic Paper size: - 22in x 18in (560mm x 460mm) Plate size: - 18 1/2in x 15in (470mm x 380mm) Margins: - Min 1in (25mm) Imperfections: Margins: - None Plate area: - None Verso: - None Overall Quality (in Bold): Perfect/Fine/Very Good/Good/Fair/Poor    Gerard Mercator (Kremer) 1512-94 For nearly sixty years, during the most important and exciting period in the story of modern map making, Gerard Mercator was the supreme cartographer, his name, second only to Ptolemy, synonymous with the form of map projection still in use today. Although not the inventor of this type of projection he was the first to apply it to navigational charts in such a form that compass bearings could be plotted on charts in straight lines, thereby providing seamen with a solution to an age-old problem of navigation at sea. His influence transformed land surveying and his researches and calculations led him to break away from Ptolemy's conception of the size and outline of the Continents, drastically reducing the longitudinal length of Europe and Asia and altering the shape of the Old World as visualized in the early sixteenth century. Mercator was born in Rupelmonde in Flanders and studied in Louvain under Gemma Frisius, Dutch writer, astronomer and mathematician. He established himself there as a cartographer and instrument and globe maker, and when he was twenty-five drew and engraved his first map (of Palestine) and went on to produce a map of Flanders (1540) supervising the surveying and completing the drafting and engraving himself. The excellence of his work brought him the patronage of Charles V for whom he constructed a globe, but in spite of his favor with the Emperor he was caught up in the persecution of Lutheran Protestants and charged with heresy, fortunately without serious consequences. No doubt the fear of further persecution influenced his move in 1552 to Duisburg, where he continued the production of maps, globes and instruments culminating in large-scale maps of Europe (1554), the British Isles (1564) and the famous World Map on 18 sheets drawn to his new projection (1569). All these early maps are exceedingly rare, some being known by only one copy. In later life he devoted himself to his edition of the maps in Ptolemy's Geographia, reproduced in his own engraving as nearly as possible in their original form, and to the preparation of his 3-volume collection of maps to which, for the first time, the word 'Atlas' was applied. The word was chosen, he wrote, 'to honor the Titan, Atlas, King of Mauritania, a learned philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer' . The first two parts of the Atlas were published in 1585 and 1589 and the third, with the first two making a complete edition, in 1595 the year after Mercator's death. Mercator's sons and grandsons were all cartographers and made their contributions in various ways to the great atlas. Rumold, in particular, was responsible for the complete edition in 1595. After a second complete edition in 1602, the map plates were bought in 1604 by Jodocus Hondius who, with his sons, Jodocus II and Henricus, published enlarged editions which dominated the map market for the following twenty to thirty years.     Payment Methods Visa MasterCard Bankcard * PayPal Direct Bank Transfers & AUS$ Bank Drafts Please contact me to discuss other forms of payment Please also contact me before the end of the auction if you would like to discuss payment by installments over an agreed period *(Please email your CC#, Expiry Date, full name on card & shipping address in two separate emails or alternatively you can fax or phone to the numbers below.) Australian buyers please add 10% GST    Shipping Worldwide Australia Air Mail Courier1 Courier2* Express Insurance $10.00 US $30.00 US $12.00 US   2.75% min $6.00 US       $6.00 US 2.75% min $4.00 US *Courier #2: Available for all items 11in x 8 1/2in (280mm x 215mm) or smaller flat or folded along original folds Airmail shipping from Australia to Europe or the US takes approx. 5-7 days. EMS courier will take 3-5 days. There will be only one shipping charge per 10 maps or prints purchased. We can hold items to combine shipments. Please note, as an added measure of security all purchases over $500US will now be automatically sent by courier Classical Images was founded 1998 and has built an excellent reputation for supplying high quality original antiquarian works on paper at affordable prices. We carry an extensive inventory of antiquarian collectibles from the 15th to 19th century, a period that produced achievements by some of history’s finest explorers, scientists and artists. Classical Images adheres to the Codes of Ethics outlined by the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) . We are enthusiastic collectors ourselves of Antiquarian treasures and are happy to share our knowledge, discuss issues and provide information and assistance, both in general and about items we offer for sale. All items sold by Classical Images are genuine and a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) will be happily supplied on request. Thank you Simon & Andrea Mayers Classical Images 61-3-9497 2845 Tel 61-3-94972895 Fax RETURN POLICY STATEMENT Since purchasing online does not give the opportunity to examine our merchandise directly we strive to give you as much information as possible in the description, condition report and images supplied for each item. We sell only quality merchandise, and take great care to accurately research and describe the features and condition of each item so that you can be comfortable with your buying decision. If you receive an item which you feel was not accurately described in our catalog or is not in the condition stated then you have 7 days to return the item with a full purchase refund (less S&H) providing the item is returned in the same condition as it was sent and via an insured internet trackable shipping service. RETURN POLICY a. All items must be returned within 7 days (postmark or pickup date). b. Returns must be shipped securely packaged, adequately insured, post-paid, internet traceable and in the same condition as purchased. c. Please call us at (61) (3) 9497 2845 or contact us via email at info@classicalimages.com, before returning any items. d. All monies will be refunded once the item has been received and the above issues have been resolved. We value our customers highly and will make every effort to satisfy all issues that arise. If you have any problems with your purchase please do not hesitate to contact us   Created by eBay Blackthorne ver. 3.2.146.0 Place a Bid!