Mercator and Hondius, 1610

1610 copperplate engraving, ancient colour 45 x 38.5 cm. Copper engraving, original colors, print in 1610. Good condition. Mathematician and geographer of German descent, Mercator was born in Rupelmonde. He was educated at the University of Louvain in 1530 under the direction of Frisius astronomer who introduced him to the construction and representation of the globe. In 1538, he published his first map of the world after that of the Holy Land, released the previous year. From 1552, it accepts the Chair of cosmography at the University of Duisburg and working on the development of a projection of the Earth which he published in 1569, 18 sheets of "The Mercator projection" that finally provides browsers a real description of the contours of the land.