This is an early and scarce map of present day Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and Oman. Only the first (1578) and second (1584) editions of the atlas were published during Gerard Mercator’s lifetime. The map was based on geographic data and instructions left by Claudius Ptolemy (90 – 168 AD) of Alexandria, Egypt.
Gerard Mercator is most popularly known for being the first to use the word “atlas” when referring to a group of maps as well his creation of the Mercator projection where line of latitude and longitude are constrained to a grid like format. However he did spend much of his life working on renditions to Ptolemaic maps such as this one.
This is an excellent example of Mercator’s rendition of Ptolemy’s map of Arabia or Asia VI. Numerous towns, cities, and rivers are noted throughout. Mountain ranges have been reduced in size from Ptolomy’s maps but are still quite prominent. The Red Sea is filled with many sizeable false islands and the Persian Gulf is projected with a more horizontal elongation. A title cartouche featuring a captive minitar like creature decorates the lower right corner. Latin text on verso.

Map is in A+ condition with lovely hand coloring.

13 x 19 in