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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.


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Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
9684
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10470
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10473
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10461
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10462
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
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VG+
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10464
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10472
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
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VG
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10711
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
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8 x 6 inches
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VG
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10713
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10471
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10705
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
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VG+
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10708
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
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10709
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
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VG+
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10710
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
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10712
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
8 x 6 inches
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VG+
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10714
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10463
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
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VG+
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10465
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
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10466
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
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9 x 7 inches
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VG+
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10468
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
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VG+
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10724
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1610 circa
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
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29679
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10474
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10707
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
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VG+
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10716
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
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10460
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
9 x 7 inches
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VG+
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10467
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
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9498
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
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10 x 7 inches
Condition:
VG+
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71180
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
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10703
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
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10694
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
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10697
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1628
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8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
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10698
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
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10699
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
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VG
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10700
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
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10715
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10719
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10720
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
9497
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
10691
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
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10692
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
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8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
10695
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
10696
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1636
Size:
7 x 5 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
12996
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
10693
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
10704
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1607
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG
Stock#:
10723
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
9512
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1635
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
48829
Place/Date:
Amsterdam / 1630 circa
Size:
8 x 6 inches
Condition:
VG+
Stock#:
47912