Mercatur, Gerard

IRLANDIAE REGNUM [MAP OF NORTHERN IRELAND]

Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius, 1609. Map. Untitled copper-engraved hand-colored map of northern Ireland. (A contiguous map from the same atlas depicting southern Ireland is entitled "IRLAN / DIAE / REGN / UM"). Map: 13.5 in. x 18.5 in., Paper: 17 in. x 21 in. Rich-toned coloration accentuates Ireland's counties. Exquisite pictorial relief and vibrant moire seas; two engraved sailing vessels and a sea-monster ply the open waters. On verso of map are two folio pages of text (pp. 51 and 52) with the heading "LA III TABLE D'IRLANDE". Large drop cap to begin text and fanciful tailpiece to bottom of page 52. Vertical center fold-line, as originally presented. Light age-toning with a few faded spots. Shallow crease to paper's bottom right corner. (Bonar Law ME 19: catchword on p. 51 is "P dot,ils"). Very Good. Item #100359

Gerard Mercatur (1512-1594) and his son Rumbold published the third and final part of their great three-part Atlas in 1595 (a year after Gerard's death), entitled "Pars Altera" (Part One is "Gallia"; Part Two is "Italiae"). There were five maps showing Ireland in Part Three, including this map of the northern portion of "Irelandiae Regnum". This copy was printed in the 1609 publication of the atlas, five years after the Mercatur's stock of plates were purchased by the Dutch cartographer Jodocus Hondius.

Price: $375.00