This is the second, less common state of Mercator’s map covering Down and Antrim counties in Northern Ireland. This was one of five Irish maps Gerard Mercator designed for the second part of his atlas. It is beautifully engraved with strong topographical features in the interior. After 1636, the plate was altered to remove the shading in the sea, add distance scales at upper right, and redesign the title cartouche, where Mercator's imprint has been replaced with that of Henricus Hondius, Sumptibus Henrici Hondy. French text on verso, published 1639-44.

References: Law, p. 21; Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #5941:1.2.

Condition: B+

Full contemporary color on a lightly toned sheet with wide margins. There are couple light spots in map image, centerfold separations at top and bottom that have been closed on verso with archival materials, and light dampstaining along the sheet's edges, well outside engraved image.