Mercator’s North Pole from the ‘Atlas Minor’

A reduction of Mercator's famous map of the Arctic, first published in the 'Atlas Minor' of 1607. The three roundel inset maps show the Faroe Islands, the Shetlands and, despite not being shown on the map, the mythical island of Frisland. In 1621 the printing plate was sold to a London publisher, who republished it in 'Purchas His Pilgrimies'. Later Dutch editions used new plates by Jansson.