1636 Mercator Hondius Antique Map of Iceland - Islandia Start Price USD 1,375.00 Current Price USD 1,375.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 1,500.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, October 06, 2008 End Time Monday, October 13, 2008 Location Successful Worldwide Shipping From Melbourne, See more about '1636 Mercator Hondius Antique Map of Iceland - Islandia' Description Helpful Links:Company Details - About MEPayment & Shipping Options View seller's other itemsCartographer's ProfileAsk Seller a questionReturn PolicyAbout Classical Images We have over 2,000 items for sale on our Ebay stores site. Please click here to enter the stores and use the search engine to the left to search specifically for maps, prints, Atlases on the Classical Images Stores, thank you Click Here   Islandia click image to enlarge click image to enlarge This superbly engraved beautifully hand coloured original antique map of Iceland was published in the 1628 French edition of Gerard Mercator's Atlas released by Henricus Hondius and Jan Jansson. This map of Iceland is perhaps the most familiar of all the outlines of the Island published. First published by Mercator in 1595 it is derived from an earlier map by Abraham Ortelius and Gudhbrandur Thorlaksson (1541 - 1627) the mathematically trained Icelandic Bishop of Holar. Thorlaksson was responsible for supplying cartographical data of the island to Anders Sorensen Vedel (1542 - 1616) who in turn passed it onto Ortelius. Ortelius published the first accurate map of Iceland in 1587. After the sale of Mercator's plates to in 1605, Hondius continued to publish the original plates with little alteration until 1630 when along with Jansson many of the original plates were altered or re-engraved either decoratively or topographically or both. This map is from one of the last unaltered editions of Mercator's atlas. (Ref: Koeman, Tooley) Please note all items auctioned are genuine, we do not sell reproductions. A Certificate of Authenticity (COA) can be issued on request.    Condition Report Condition ReportPaper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stablePaper color: - off whiteAge of map color: - OriginalColors used: - Red, yellow, greenGeneral color appearance: - AuthenticPaper size: - 21in x 16in (535mm x 410mm) Plate size: - 17 1/4in x 11 1/4in (440mm x 290mm)Margins: - Min 1in (25mm) Imperfections:Margins: - Bottom centerfold re-joined 3 repairs to margins, no lossPlate area: - NoneVerso: - None Overall Quality (in Bold):Perfect/Fine/Very Good/Good/Fair/Poor    Gerard Mercator (Kremer) 1512-94 For nearly sixty years, during the most important and exciting period in the story of modern map making, Gerard Mercator was the supreme cartographer, his name, second only to Ptolemy, synonymous with the form of map projection still in use today. Although not the inventor of this type of projection he was the first to apply it to navigational charts in such a form that compass bearings could be plotted on charts in straight lines, thereby providing seamen with a solution to an age-old problem of navigation at sea. His influence transformed land surveying and his researches and calculations led him to break away from Ptolemy's conception of the size and outline of the Continents, drastically reducing the longitudinal length of Europe and Asia and altering the shape of the Old World as visualized in the early sixteenth century.Mercator was born in Rupelmonde in Flanders and studied in Louvain under Gemma Frisius, Dutch writer, astronomer and mathematician. He established himself there as a cartographer and instrument and globe maker, and when he was twenty-five drew and engraved his first map (of Palestine) and went on to produce a map of Flanders (1540) supervising the surveying and completing the drafting and engraving himself. The excellence of his work brought him the patronage of Charles V for whom he constructed a globe, but in spite of his favor with the Emperor he was caught up in the persecution of Lutheran Protestants and charged with heresy, fortunately without serious consequences. No doubt the fear of further persecution influenced his move in 1552 to Duisburg, where he continued the production of maps, globes and instruments culminating in large-scale maps of Europe (1554), the British Isles (1564) and the famous World Map on 18 sheets drawn to his new projection (1569). All these early maps are exceedingly rare, some being known by only one copy.In later life he devoted himself to his edition of the maps in Ptolemy's Geographia, reproduced in his own engraving as nearly as possible in their original form, and to the preparation of his 3-volume collection of maps to which, for the first time, the word 'Atlas' was applied. The word was chosen, he wrote, 'to honor the Titan, Atlas, King of Mauritania, a learned philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer' . The first two parts of the Atlas were published in 1585 and 1589 and the third, with the first two making a complete edition, in 1595 the year after Mercator's death. Mercator's sons and grandsons were all cartographers and made their contributions in various ways to the great atlas. Rumold, in particular, was responsible for the complete edition in 1595. After a second complete edition in 1602, the map plates were bought in 1604 by Jodocus Hondius who, with his sons, Jodocus II and Henricus, published enlarged editions which dominated the map market for the following twenty to thirty years.    Payment Methods Visa MasterCard Bankcard *PayPal Direct Bank Transfers & AUS$ Bank Drafts Please contact me to discuss other forms of payment Please also contact me before the end of the auction if you would like to discuss payment by instalments over an agreed period *(Please email your CC#, Expiry Date, full name on card & shipping address in two separate emails or alternatively you can fax or phone to the numbers below.)Australian buyers please add 10% GST    Shipping WorldwideAustralia Air Mail Courier1 Courier2* Express Insurance $10.00 US $30.00 US $12.00 US   2.75% min $6.00 US       $6.00 US 2.75% min $4.00 US *Courier #2: Available for all items 11in x 8 1/2in (280mm x 215mm) or smaller flat or folded along original folds Airmail shipping from Australia to Europe or the US takes approx. 5-7 days. EMS courier will take 3-5 days. There will be only one shipping charge per 10 maps or prints purchased. We can hold items to combine shipments.Please note, as an added measure of security all purchases over $500US will now be automatically sent by courier Classical Images was founded 1998 and has built an excellent reputation for supplying high quality original antiquarian works on paper at affordable prices. We carry an extensive inventory of antiquarian collectibles from the 15th to 19th century, a period that produced achievements by some of history’s finest explorers, scientists and artists. Classical Images adheres to the Codes of Ethics outlined by the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA) .We are enthusiastic collectors ourselves of Antiquarian treasures and are happy to share our knowledge, discuss issues and provide information and assistance, both in general and about items we offer for sale. All items sold by Classical Images are genuine and a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) will be happily supplied on request.Thank youSimon & Andrea MayersClassical Images61-3-9497 2845 Tel61-3-94972895 Fax RETURN POLICY STATEMENT Since purchasing online does not give the opportunity to examine our merchandise directly we strive to give you as much information as possible in the description, condition report and images supplied for each item. We sell only quality merchandise, and take great care to accurately research and describe the features and condition of each item so that you can be comfortable with your buying decision.If you receive an item which you feel was not accurately described in our catalog or is not in the condition stated then you have 7 days to return the item with a full purchase refund (less S&H) providing the item is returned in the same condition as it was sent and via an insured internet trackable shipping service. RETURN POLICY a. All items must be returned within 7 days (postmark or pickup date). b. Returns must be shipped securely packaged, adequately insured, post-paid, internet traceable and in the same condition as purchased. c. Please call us at (61) (3) 9497 2845 or contact us via email at info@classicalimages.com, before returning any items. d. All monies will be refunded once the item has been received and the above issues have been resolved. We value our customers highly and will make every effort to satisfy all issues that arise. If you have any problems with your purchase please do not hesitate to contact us    Created by eBay Blackthorne ver. 3.1.136.0 Place a Bid!