MERCATOR, G. / HONDIUS, J. - Nova Africae Tabula.

An attractive map of the continent, added by Hondius when he took over publication of Mercator's Atlas. Although it is based on Mercator's map, Hondius improved the outline of Madagascar, and named Cape False and Saldanha Bay.
Richly ornamented map of the continent. Decorative title cartouche surrounded by a wreath and topped with an animal head. There are five ships under full sail. Flying fish and various sea monsters decorate the sea. Elephants and dromedary occupy the interior. Cartographically based on the early work of Speed and Blaeu, the map is filled with fictitious rivers and mountains. The origin of the Nile conforms to the Ptolemaic tradition of the two twin lakes. The Kingdom of Monomotapa occupies a large area of southern Africa.
Mercator was born in Rupelmonde in Flanders and studied in Louvain under Gemma Frisius, Dutch writer, astronomer and mathematician. The excellence of his work brought him the patronage of Charles V, but in spite of his favor with the Emperor he was caught up in the persecution of Lutheran protestants and charged with heresy, fortunately without serious consequences. No doubt the fear of further persecution influenced his move in 1552 to Duisburg, where he continued the production of maps, globes and instruments. Mercator's sons and grandsons, were all cartographers and made their contributions in various ways to his atlas. Rumold, in particular, was responsible for the complete edition in 1595. The map plates were bought in 1604 by Jodocus Hondius who, with his sons, Jodocus II and Henricus, published enlarged editions which dominated the map market for the following twenty to thirty years.