1619 MERCATOR Map BALKANS Slovenia Bosnia Croatia Isles

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Sclavonia,Croatia, Bonsia cum Dalmatiae Parte 46.5 x 36 cm copperplate engraving, sheet size 52 x 42 cm, original hand colour, engraved in Duisberg circa 1590, printed in Amsterdam 1619 We are pleased to offer this exceptional original map of the western Balkans by the renowned geographer and master engraver Gerard Mercator (1512-1594). Mercator's eponymous projection, which in the felicitous phrase of his recent biographer Nicholas Crane "reconciled the sp and the plane", combined with his unsurpassed dedication and skill as a cartographer and engraver make him without question the most famous mapmaker of all time. This example of the map is from the 1619 French language edition of the Mercator-Hondius Atlas published by Jodocus Hondius (1563-1612) who purchased Mercator's map plates from his heirs. A commercial disappointment in Mercator's lifetime, the addition of numerous maps by the Hondius family revived the project and as the Mercator-Hondius Atlas it went on to great success, eventually publishing nearly 50 editions in multiple languages. The importance of the original Mercator plates to this success should not be overlooked - for example this map was still used as the principal map of the region in the Atlas throughout its long publication. Quite decorative, the map shows the region west of Belgrade including what is now part of Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia and was the basis for many 16th century maps of the region by publishers such as Blaeu, Jansson etc. A well preserved example, this classic Mercator map will make an elegant presentation if matted and framed. To get a sense of map detail, consider that the distance from Sibenik (Sebebnico) to Knin (Tina) as seen in this enlarged photo measures just 4 cm actual size: Decorative title cartouche is placed east of the Danube - note elegant calligraphy. Mercator was a master calligrapher and wrote an influential treatise on the subject titled Literarum Latinarum that was published in 1541 - the work was the first in northern Europe to advocate the italic script, which Mercator described as "elegant, easy to write, and far more legible than any other": Belgrade and environs - note pictorial topography and "forests": Zagreb and environs: Extensive French text on verso compiled by the Hondius firm from a number of sources, including Mercator's original commentary, is a fascinating document in and of itself. We present a few representative excerpts in translation: "The armies of the Turks were happily defeated at the Battle of Sisak in Croatia on 22 June 1593 by the joint Christian forces of the Croats and Carniolans..." "Strabo writes that the entire country of Sclavonia is exposed to the sun, prosperous and pleasant and well suited to vineyards with fertile soil..." "They dwell mainly in houses made of wood, thatched with straw, except for a few coastal cities w the dwellings are of better construction..." Condition - Please note carefully: Map is in overall very good condition as can be ascertained from photos, strong impression with distinct platemark, full margins, hand colour work of the very highest calibre. Margins exhibit minor chips and top margin corners slightly truncated (see photo of verso). Part of original binding strip is present on verso and its outline shows on recto as two vertical lines parallel to centrefold; the area of binding strip (1 cm in width) shows faintly darker than remainder of map as can be seen in photos. Some extremely faint offset in centrefold area, trivial and scarcely noticeable. In all a well-preserved example of a scarce and decorative map that will make an elegant presentation if matted and framed. Inquiries welcome and we encourage you to visit our other auctions on eBay. Note: Final auction price includes insured shipment within continental United States. All other customers to pay actual shipping costs via traceable means including full insurance. International bidders are wholly responsible for any applicable... read more

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