Beautifully coloured first-state, double hemisphere map of the world by Henricus Hondius (dated 1630) from a German edition of the revised Mercator Atlas issued by Hondius and Jan Jansson. Although Hondius added some newly discovered geographical detail to his map, including part of the north Australian coastline, it is based principally on a 1625 double hemisphere map by William Grent, which also formed the basis for John Speed’s world map and, like Speed, shows California as an island. Considered to be one of the masterpieces of the Dutch golden age of cartography, this finely engraved map includes portraits of Julius Caesar, Claudius Ptolemy, Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius in each corner along with representations of the four elements. A narrative appears on the verso in German. Other than repairs to a centrefold split and the side margins, the map is a strong dark impression on heavy, stable paper in excellent condition. 38.5 cm x 54.5 cm