[Europe]. MERCATOR (Gerard); HALMA (François). Tab. 1. Europ - Lot 34

[Europe]. MERCATOR (Gerard); HALMA (François). Tab. 1. Europae, Continens Albion, Britanniam, et Hiberniam... [Franequerae, apud Franciscum Halmam, ca. 1695-1704]. 1 copper-engraved map (33.5 x 41 cm. on 45 x 52 cm. sheet), hand-colored (tiny and skilful restorations; soiling in the margins). Mercator's map of the British Isles, based on Ptolemy's geography. It illustrates the ancient geography of Great Britain and Ireland, extending as far south as part of France and Germany. It features a decorative title cartouche, sailboats and a sea monster. This map was first published in its original state in Mercator's atlas "Tabulae geographicae CI. Ptolemaei ad mentem autoris restitutae et emendatae per G. Mercatorem," published in 1578. A total of eight editions of this atlas were published between 1578 and 1730. The present copy of the map comes from one of the later editions of "Tabulae geographicae," published between 1695 and 1704 by François Halma. It is in its second state, as described by Van der Krogt. The cartography is identical to that of the first state, but a different cartouche has been engraved. In the third state, a graticule has been added. Early handwriting on verso: "Albion". (Van der Krogt, I, [0901:1.2]).