Mercator, Gerard
Polonia et Silesia Per Gerardum Mercatorem
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- Published: Duisburg
- Published date: 1585
- Technique: Copper engraving / Original color.
- Type: map
- Category: Poland and Silesia
- Issue date: 1585
- Size: 34.5 x 45,5 cm (13.5 x 18 inches).
- Bibliography: Imago Poloniae K 75/1; Koeman Atlantes Neederlandici Vol II: Me 13A Page 298/299 ff (Z= line 16: Dobri-/); Peter v. der Krogt Atlantes Neederlandici I [1900:1A.1].
- Stock number: 33268
- Condition: In excellent condition.
Article description
Original antique copper engraving, hand colored (towns and cities are hightend in gold) in outline and wash when published. Very rare first edition of this early historic map of Poland and Silesia, published for the first time 1585 in Duisburg in Gerard Mercator's atlas ,Germa/niae tabule geogra- / phicae. Per Gerardum Mercato- / rem Illustriss. Ducis Julie / Clivie &c. Cosmographum / Duysburgi edite. Cum Privilegio.' With Latin text verso and with the signature Z and line 16 ending in ,Dobri-'. No printed pagination number on the double map sheet. This antique map depicts the kingdom of Poland and Silesia and extends in the south towards the neighboring Russia and in the west with the neighboring kingdom of Bohemia. Equipped with a decorative renaissance title cartouche. The map appeared for the first time as the penultimate (sheet number Z) of 26 maps in the first separate part of Gerhard Mercator's atlas Germaniae tabulae geographicae (Duisburg 1585), which covers the territories of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Later it appeared in the first collective edition published by Mercator's son Rumold (approx. 1545-99) under the title Atlas sive cosmographicae meditationes de fabrica mundi et fabrica figura (Duisburg 1595) the second Duisburg edition was published in 1602 by Mercator's heirs with one by Bernhard Buyss published text printed in Düsseldorf. Pointing to this first edition of Gerard Mercator's map of Poland Śląska (Polonia et Silesia), which was included in the first part of the atlas from 1585, entitled Germaniae tabule geographicae (...) (C. Koeman 1969, pp. 287–289). It was a new work, prepared on the basis of the previously printed maps of the lands of Poland and its neighbors. Although it is often perceived in Polish literature as of little value in terms of cartography, but it is worth paying attention to because it is the mother of maps of Poland published in the 17th century (J. Łuczyński 2009b). For its execution, Gerard Mercator used almost all the then available penalgraphic sources. The basis for its creation was Gerard de Jode's Atlas map of Poland from 1578. Moreover, the additions were made on the basis of maps of Poland by Wacław Grodecki, Sarmacja by Andrzej Pograbka, Europe by Gerard Mercator and Poland by Giacomo Gastaldi. The following borderlands are presented in an interesting way: Ku-Jawsko-Mazovia-Prussia based on the map of Prussia by Kasper Henneberger from 1576, Greater Poland-Pomeranian-Brandenburg based on the maps of Brandenburg by Elias Camerarius and West Pomerania by Peter Becker called Arto-pöus from 1550, Greater Poland - Śląskie based on the map of Silesia by Martin Helwig from 1561 and Małopolska-Śląskie based on the same map by M. Helwig and the map of the Duchy of Oświęcim-West Pomeranian by Stanisław Porębski from 1563.
Imago Poloniae K 75/1; Koeman Atlantes Neederlandici Vol II: Me 13A Page 298/299 ff (Z= line 16: Dobri-/); Peter v. der Krogt Atlantes Neederlandici I [1900:1A.1].