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Map World Map on Double Cordiform Projection.

About this Item

Title

  • World Map on Double Cordiform Projection.

Summary

  • This world map on two sheets is an early work of the famous Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator (1512--94). Only two copies of the map are extant: this one from the American Geographical Society Library, and one at the New York Public Library. This is also the first map to apply the name America to the North American continent as well as to South America and to differentiate North and South America as separate continents. In using the term "America" in this way, Mercator shares responsibility with Martin Waldseemüller for naming the Western Hemisphere. Mercator was a master of engraving and a creator of mathematical instruments and terrestrial globes. His solution to the problem of accurately conveying the Earth's sphere in only two dimensions, as used here in a double-heart-shaped projection, resulted in maps of greatly increased accuracy. Mercator's navigational charts enabled compass bearings to be plotted in straight lines on charts and clarified longitude and latitude measurements.

Names

  • Mercator, Gerhard, 1512-1594 Cartographer.

Created / Published

  • [place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 1538.

Headings

  • -  1538
  • -  World maps

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  "Scale 1:65,000,000"--Note extracted from World Digital Library.
  • -  Original resource extent: 1 map ; 2 hemispheres each 31 centimeters in diameter, on sheet 46 x 61 centimeters.
  • -  Original resource at: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries.
  • -  Content in Latin.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Source Collection

  • American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021668435

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Format

Contributor

Dates

Language

Subject

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Mercator, Gerhard, Cartographer. World Map on Double Cordiform Projection. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1538] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668435/.

APA citation style:

Mercator, G. (1538) World Map on Double Cordiform Projection. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021668435/.

MLA citation style:

Mercator, Gerhard, Cartographer. World Map on Double Cordiform Projection. [Place of Publication Not Identified: Publisher Not Identified, 1538] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021668435/>.