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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.

Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
50679
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
21 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
50849
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
50883
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595 (1619)
Size:
19.5 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
51367
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
51407
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1627
Size:
17.5 x 14.5 inches inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
51478
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
51653
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
51864
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1619 circa
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
51886
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
18 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
41806
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1698
Size:
16 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
39694se
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1578 (1695)
Size:
18 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
58820
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619
Size:
17.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
57948
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
58394
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
17 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
50379
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1695 circa
Size:
18.5 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
58557
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1695 circa
Size:
18 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
58899
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
54863
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
54833
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1620 circa
Size:
16.5 x 12 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
65595
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
51722
Place/Date:
Cologne / 1584
Size:
18 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
78166
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1698 circa
Size:
18 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
58584
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610 circa
Size:
18.25 x 13.75 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
75618
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
16.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
48695
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1578 circa (1695 ca)
Size:
14 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
89187
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1620 circa
Size:
18.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
69198
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610
Size:
18 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
87340
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18 x 11.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
87971
Place/Date:
Cologne / 1584
Size:
18 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
77984
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610 circa
Size:
18.75 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
89659
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
18.5 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
56307
Place/Date:
Cologne / 1584
Size:
13 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
89181
Place/Date:
Cologne / 1584
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
89178
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1584 circa
Size:
18.5 x 12 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
79434
Place/Date:
Cologne / 1584
Size:
17 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
89171
Place/Date:
Cologne / 1584 circa
Size:
16 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
89170
Place/Date:
Cologne / 1584 circa
Size:
18.25 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
78289
Place/Date:
Cologne / 1584 circa
Size:
18 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
72939
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
18 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
47147
Place/Date:
Leiden / 1690 circa
Size:
18.5 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
Good
Stock#:
72635
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
16 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
93125
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630 circa
Size:
10.25 x 7.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
93710
Place/Date:
Duisburg / 1595
Size:
19 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
89184
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610 circa
Size:
10.5 x 8 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
95290
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 circa
Size:
17.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
55905

Archived

Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1613
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
0195
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
6300
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1606
Size:
19 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
17196
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610
Size:
7.75 x 5.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
12968
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
10.25 x 7.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
17855
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
10.25 x 7.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
18097
Place/Date:
Amstrdam / 1605
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
18499
Place/Date:
Duisburg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
18687
Place/Date:
Duisburg / 1595
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
18692
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1578
Size:
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
19251
Place/Date:
Antwerp / 1606
Size:
19.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
20166
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1579
Size:
18.5 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
20984
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630 circa
Size:
19 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
21736
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
22205
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1589
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
22208
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
22287
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1606
Size:
18.5 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
22530
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1613
Size:
16 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
22567
Place/Date:
Amsteredam / 1650
Size:
18 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
21633
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1620
Size:
18 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
22672
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610
Size:
16 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
23488
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595
Size:
18.5 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
Stock#:
24161
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
16 x 13 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24177
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
15 x 9 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24332
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24388
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
16 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24378
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24408
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24425
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
17 x 12.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24409
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24422
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24450
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610 circa
Size:
6.5 x 5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
24467
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
24512
Place/Date:
Leiden / 1578 (1695)
Size:
18.5 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25269
Place/Date:
Leiden / 1578 (1695)
Size:
18.5 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25433
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25781
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25851
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25867
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25890
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25910
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25930
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1579
Size:
18.5 x 13.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25957
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25995
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25962
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
19 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
26013
Place/Date:
Duisberg / 1595
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
25133