The Italian Lakes.

Mercator Gerhard, Hondius Jodicus. Brescia and Milan "Brescia Episcopatus Mediolanu Ducatus." Amsterdam, " Exusum in aedibus Jodici Hondij veneunt etiam apud Corneliu Nicolai. item apud Joannem Janssoniu Arnhemi." 1607
Copper engraved map of the Italian Lakes from the first edition of Gerhard Mercator's "Atlas Minor". Latin text to verso.
The map shows the the region of of the Italian Lakes south to the river Po, the bishopric of Bresca and part of the Duchy of Milan Dark impression; old ink number to upper margin just touching plate; printed slightly crooked on page hence upper margin short (3-9mm); damp stain to lower blank margin.

Jodicus Hondius published the first "Atlas Minor" in 1607 in response to the idea that there was a market for smaller, handier and cheaper Atlases to make the maps of Mercator available to a wider public; he probably engraved the maps himself.
The early editions were printed by Hondius and jointly sold by Corn. Claes and Joh. Janssonius, who probably supplied and owned the letterpress.
With Hondius death in 1612 the further editions were published still under his name by his widow and heirs until 1621 when the plates were sold to a London editor.
Koeman: Me186. 145 by 184mm (5¾ by 7¼ inches).   ref: 2340  €150