Africa Ex Magna orbis terre descriptione Gerardi Mercatoris desumpta, Studio & industria.

This magnificent old color map of Africa was one of the most influential maps of the continent of its time. This atlas version of the map was engraved by Gerard Mercator’s grandson, and was based the earlier 16th century work of his grandfather - namely his wonderful 21 sheet world map.
This map is widely regarded as one of the most geographically accurate maps of Africa for its time, as the map displays tremendous detail in regard to the locations of rivers and place names along its entire coast.
Recent European exploration is gracefully displayed throughout the map, but particularly with the delineation of the Cuama ( Zambezi) River in the northern portion of Benamataxa.
A great deal of the interior of the map was derived from Ptolemy, most notably is the depiction of the Nile originating from two lakes within “Lune Montes,” (Mountains of the Moon). This lovely map is further enhanced with a strong, decorative mannerist style title cartouche, topped by fruit and a pair of satyrs.
The solitary figure within Africa is the seated legendary priest-king Prester John in Ethiopia.

Unlike many other maps of Africa from the 16th and 17th centuries, this map lacks the numerous vignettes of animals and scenes of indigenous people that were often times schematically placed in area of geographic uncertainty to hide the cartographer’s ignorance of the massive continent. The only figure placed on the map is that of the legendary Prester John along the western bank of the Nile River. Prester John was believed to be a Catholic king / priest with a ruling kingdom somewhere within the interiors of Ethiopia.