Southeastern Ireland: A 17th Century Hand Colored Map by Mercator and Hondius

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A 17th century copperplate hand-colored map entitled "The Second Table of Ireland, Udrone" by Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius, published … Read more A 17th century copperplate hand-colored map entitled "The Second Table of Ireland, Udrone" by Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius, published in Amsterdam in 1635 in 'Cosmographicall Description of the Fabricke & Figure of the World with new Mappes and Tables; By the studious industry of Jodocus Hondy', the first English edition of their 'Atlas Minor'. It is focused on a region of Ireland depicting present day County Carlow in Leinster Province and the city of Catherlaugh, which is now the city of Carlow. This region has an interesting history which led to Mercator producing a map focused on it. When Queen Elizabeth I forced Earl of Desmond, Gerald Fitzgerald, to renounce all his rights to family lands in Munster, Peter Carew claimed much of these land holdings in Ireland. Carew made his case to the English at Dublin Castle and was awarded title to the Barony of Udrone. He subsequently claimed title to one half the Kingdom of Cork, as well as other Irish lands.
The map is embellished with a strap work cartouche containing the name of the region. The map is beautifully hand colored with wide margins. It is presented in an archival cream colored mat measuring 14' wide x 12" high and the map sheet measures 11.25" wide x 7" high. There is English text on the verso. The map is in excellent condition. See less