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Description

A striking antique Ptolemaic map of Central Asia centered on the Indus River, published by Gerard Mercator in 1584.

The map extends from the Gujarat region in the east to west of Karachi, and in the north to the supposed source of the Indus in the Himalayas.

This state of the map includes no title cartouche but does contain a cartouche that reads: Medius meridiae nus jjj. ad quem religui inclinantur ratione parallelorum 24 & 34, which explains the location in terms of latitude.

Mercator originally published this map in his Ptolemy's Geographia. Although Mercator is most renowned today for the projection he popularized and for first using the term Atlas for a collection of maps, Mercator's great dream was to produce an improved and updated edition of Ptolemy's maps. Achieved toward the end of his lifetime, the maps were beautifully engraved and are widely regarded as one of the best and most accomplished editions of Ptolemy, albeit one of the last.

Condition Description
Minor marginal toning.
Gerard Mercator Biography

Gerard Mercator is one of the most famous cartographers of all time. Mercator was born in Flanders and educated at the Catholic University in Leuven. After his graduation in 1532, Mercator worked with Gemma Frisius, a prominent mathematician, and Gaspar a Myrica, a goldsmith and engraver. Together, these men produced globes and scientific instruments, allowing Mercator to hone his skills.

With his wife, Barbara, Mercator had six children: Arnold, Emerentia, Dorothes, Bartholomeus, Rumold, and Catharina.  In 1552, Mercator moved to Duisburg from Leuven, where he lived for the rest of his life. In 1564, he was appointed the official cosmographer to the court of Duke Wilhelm of Cleve.

Mercator’s most important contribution was the creation and popularization of a projection which now bears his name. On Mercator projection maps, all parallels and meridians are drawn at right angles to each other, with the distance between the parallels extending towards the poles. This allowed for accurate latitude and longitude calculation and also allowed navigational routes to be drawn using straight lines, a huge advantage for sailors as this allowed them to plot courses without constant recourse to adjusting compass readings.

Mercator’s other enduring contribution to cartography is the term “atlas”, which was first used to describe his collection of maps gathered in one volume. The Mercator atlas was published in 1595, a year after Mercator’s death, thanks to the work of his sons, particularly Rumold, and his grandsons.