ORBIS TERRAE COMPENDIOSA DESCRIPTIO

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Superb reduced version of Mercator's famous 1569 World map. Engraved by Porro The title mentions Romuldus Mercator .

Gerard Mercator's world map was condensed

into double-hemisphere form by his son Rumold, preserving the bulge to the

coast of South America. The hemispheres are surrounded by an elaborate

strapwork border; between them lie an armillary sphere and compass-rose.

Girolamo Porro was able to preserve an incredible amount of the original detail

in his reduction, including text on the Southern Continent

The map includes a classical late 16th Century configuration of the World, including a Northwest Passage, unusual depiction of the North Pole, massive Terrae Australis, narrow passage between South America and Terrae Australis, bulging western portion of South America and unusual treatment of North America, to name but a few of its features. Some of the placenames mentioned by Marco Polo in Asia are present, as are several of the mythical islands of the Atlantic.

Finely engraved

Excellent hand colour

Mint condition

*Comes with title page of the section of modern maps

REF : Shirley 194.

code : M4372

Cartographer : MAGINI Giovanni

Date : 1600c

Size : 17*25 cms sheet 21.5*27 cms

availability : Sold

Price : Sold

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Giovanni Antonio Magini (1555-1617) was born in Padua, Italy, and studied medicine, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy at the University of Bologna where he was later to become a professor of astronomy. He corresponded with many of the renowned figures of the age including Ortelius, Tycho Brahe, Galileo and Johanes Kepler. He authored various works on astronomy and also produced the first printed atlas of Italy, which was published posthumously by his son Fabio. Other works included the "Geographiae Universiae" (1597) and "Moderne Tavole Di Geografia" amongst others.