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Michael Mercator (ca. 1567-1600) was the son of Arnold Mercator, and brother to Gerard Mercator the Younger. His grandfather (1512-1594), of course, is one of the most famous cartographers of all time. Unlike their sire, unfortunately, his sons and grandsons tended to die young, cutting short their careers as geographers and engravers.

Gerard 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. Arnold (1537-1587) produced his first map in 1558 and took on the quotidian operations of the family business. The second son, Bartholomeus (1540-1568), taught geography in Duisberg, but he died in 1568, aged 28. Rumold, the third son, also became an engraver and mapmaker. He spent much of his adult life in London, but returned to Duisberg in 1587; it was he who spearheaded the atlas’ publication in 1595.

Arnold died the same year Rumold returned, leaving his three sons (Gerard, Johann, and Michael) to help Rumold and their grandfather. As previously mentioned, Gerard the Younger, Arnold’s older son, contributed to the atlas, as did Johann. Michael’s contribution is perhaps the most celebrated today, although he could not help his brothers bring out a second edition of the atlas in 1602, having died in 1600. Rumold had also died, in 1599.

Michael is only known to have engraved one map, although he is also known for another cartographic work. This is the Drake silver medal, a double-hemisphere medallion commemorating Francis Drake’s circumnavigation (1577-1580). It is the only medal that he ever made. However, both pieces have earned him an enduring reputation.


Archived

Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
18 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
105205
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1619 circa
Size:
18 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
94126
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1613 circa
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
38985
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
10 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
71180
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1620 circa
Size:
18.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
47444
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1609
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
Good
Stock#:
64663
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1613)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
61640
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1609)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
41937
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1609 ca)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
46933
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1620 ca)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
52789
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 circa (1619)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
58051
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1620 circa
Size:
18.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
33820bp
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1620 ca)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
45645
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1635
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
48829
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1625 circa
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
47940
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630 circa
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
47912
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
8 x 5.5 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
47234
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1610 ca)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
40461
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
9498
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1613)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
32443
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1606 circa
Size:
18.5 x 14.5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
26935
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1633
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
33357gm
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1606 (1630 ca)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
32838bp
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610 circa
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
29679
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607 circa
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
0084dd
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610 circa
Size:
8.5 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
002cr
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1620 ca)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG-
Stock#:
26435
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610 circa
Size:
8.5 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
25177
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1632
Size:
10 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
25136
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1595 (1628)
Size:
18 x 15 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
23779
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
7 x 5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
12995
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
7 x 5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
12996
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
7 x 5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
12997
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1628
Size:
7 x 5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
12998
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
7 x 5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
12999
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
13009
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10460
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10461
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10462
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10463
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10464
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10465
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10466
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10467
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10468
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
9684
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
18 x 14 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
11970
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10470