Mercator's Single-Sheet, Folio Map of Scotland:  SCOTIA REGNUM per Gerardum Mercatorem,  Cum Priuilegio

Original copperplate engraved map
Fine Handcolor
350 x 395 mm
Map #  E-468
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This is Gerard Mercator's single-sheet, folio size map of Scotland.  This map appeared in various Mercator-Hondius atlas along with Mercator's large scale two-sheet map of Scotland (see our map # E-354). 

The map is finely engraved and especially attractive with a distinctive title cartouche in the upper right corner of the map. 

The map of Scotland is directly based on Mercator's 1564 map of England, Scotland, and Ireland, printed on eight sheets, which composed 88 x 127cm wall map.  This map was to remain the standard map of Scotland, apart from some minor improvements by Speed, until a new map by Robert Gordon in 1654 (Shirley, p. 78). 

Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) was one of the most famous geographers of his time.   His name is familiar to this day.   Mercator was noted for his rigorous and methodical approach to the preparation of his maps.  He, and his family members, were responsible for the research and development of the maps, and much of their engraving, printing, and publication. 

In 1595, this map was published in the famous Mercator Atlas Sive Cosmographicae...   After the edition of 1595, one further edition of this atlas was published by the Mercator family in Duisberg in 1602 with this same map.  In 1604, the copperplates for the atlas were sold to Jodocus Hondius and Cornelis Claesz.  In 1606, Hondius introduced a completely revised edition of Mercator's atlas, Atlas sive Cosmographicae...... and used this map of Scotland from the Mercator plates for inclusion in the atlas, or as it is often called, the Mercator-Hondius atlas.   Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612) was the founder of the famous 17th century Dutch map publishing family.  Hondius, along with sons Jodocus II and Henricus and son-in-law Jan Janssonius, was prominent in Dutch cartography and his family competed aggressively with the emerging Blaeu family map business. 

There is French text on the verso of the map describing Scotland (Scotia).  The map is from an edition of the Mercator-Hondius atlas of 1628 or 1633 with a signature of "Dd" & page numbers "105-108" on the verso of the map.  The map last appeared in a Dutch edition of the Mercator-Hondius of 1634 (vd Krogt, p. 667). 

Reference:  Reference:   Van der Krogt, Peter. Koeman's Atlantes Neerlandici, vol. 1. 't Goy-Houten: HES Publishers,1997.  Shirley, Rodney W. Early Printed Maps of the British Isles 1477-1650. West Sussex: Antique Atlas Publications, 1980.
There are several recent books about Gerard Mercator that we recommend to increase your enjoyment and understanding of Mercator and his maps:  Mercator: The Man Who Mapped the Planet by Nicholas Crane, and The World of Gerard Mercator by Andrew Taylor. 

Very Good Condition overall, with a professionally repaired separation of the centerfold on the verso.   Bright impression.