Amsterdam: Hondius, Jodocus, 1610. A hand coloured composite map of Anglesey, the Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey. Circa 1610. Latin text to the verso "Anglia". This is from the Hondius printing. Double glazed and framed in a black and gilt frame. The two pages of Latin text are visible through the rear glazed panel. Very nice condition. There is a touch of darkening to the page, but very light. The crease to the centre of the page has been reinforced to the verso. The text pages are also clean and tidy. Signed in the plate ' Per Gerardum Mercatorem Cum Privilegio ' prior to his death in 1594. Hondius took over the plates from Mercator's grandson, and re-published his Atlas. 320 x 420 mm (12½ by 16½ inches).
Gerard Mercator was one of the greatest map makers ever known. He started his career as a professional instrument maker after finishing a masters degree at Louvain University and studying advanced mathematics. By the 1560's he was developing a new form of navigational projection. Rumold Mercator was his son.