Duchy of Limburg – Mercator/Hondius, c. 1630

“Limburgensis Ducatus Nova Descriptio“, copper engraving by Gerardus Mercator published by Jodocus Hondius in 1619 as part of his “Atlas…

“Limburgensis Ducatus Nova Descriptio“, copper engraving by Gerardus Mercator published by Jodocus Hondius in 1619 as part of his “Atlas Sive Cosmographicae Meditationes De Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura”. With original hand colouring heightened with gold. Verso: French text. Size: 44,5 x 38,6 cm.

This map of the former duchy of Limburg in southern Netherlands and north-eastern Belgium was done by Aegidio Martini in 1603. Martini, a mathematician in Antwerp, was responsible for most of the maps of the Limburg region made at that time and was copied extensively. This is one of the few maps directly accredited to him as the cartographer.

Major cities shown on the map are Maastricht, Liege, and Aachen. The large title cartouche incorporates the coat of arms of the duchy and the distance scale includes a surveyor and a set of dividers.

Price: Euro 425,-