Orbis terrae compendiosa descriptio (1637) by Gerhard Mercator

Orbis terrae compendiosa descriptio — World Wall Map by Gerardus Mercator (1637)

Two poised hemispheres, a calm celestial sphere, and a compass rose that seems to breathe—this 1637 Amsterdam impression of Gerardus Mercator’s celebrated world map gathers the earth into a restrained, luminous duet. Fine coastal hatching and measured graticules sit within elegant strapwork ornamentation, giving the sheet both scientific poise and decorative grace. Part atlas plate, part heirloom, it brings the seventeenth century’s clearest cartographic voice to your wall.

Why it captivates

• Double-hemisphere clarity — western and eastern hemispheres read cleanly from across the room.

• Mercator pedigree — the master whose name defines the projection; a cornerstone of early modern cartography.

• Ornamental restraint — strapwork border, celestial sphere, and compass rose enrich without crowding.

• Scholarly & beautiful — a map that rewards close study and elevates any interior.

What you’ll see

• Two planispheres with crisp graticule and disciplined coastline engraving.

• Celestial sphere & compass rose anchoring the composition with period geometry.

• Strapwork ornamentation framing the sheet in classic seventeenth-century style.

• Balanced titling & neatline that preserve the original’s quiet authority.

A richer historical frame

Published in 1637 in Amsterdam, this impression carries Mercator’s measured synthesis of discovery and design—evidence arranged with care. Built on travelers’ reports and state surveys, then refined through an engraver’s disciplined hand, it stands at the hinge between Renaissance curiosity and Enlightenment method.

Choose your finish

Heavyweight Paper (170 gsm matte)

Best for: framing under glass in studies and living spaces
Look & feel: non-glare matte that preserves fine engraved linework and small labels

Laminated (true encapsulation)

Best for: classrooms, libraries, offices and shared spaces
Build: sealed edge-to-edge between two 80-micron gloss sheets
Benefit: wipe-clean, durable, moisture-resistant with gloss that helps reduce fading

Laminated + Timber Hang Rails (Ready to hang)

What you get: encapsulated print plus natural lacquered timber rails top & bottom with a discreet hanging cord
Where it shines: foyers, lecture rooms, galleries—polished look with everyday toughness
Install: arrives ready to hang (just add a wall hook)
Lead time: please allow up to 10 working days for professional rail mounting

Archival Canvas (395 gsm HP Professional Matte)

Best for: premium interiors, galleries and boardrooms
Print system: pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for long display life
Presence: textured surface adds warmth and museum-style depth

Canvas + Timber Hang Rails (Gallery-ready)

What you get: canvas fitted with natural timber rails top & bottom, matching cord
Where it shines: statement walls, curated heritage displays
Install: ready to hang; single-hook friendly
Lead time: please allow up to 10 working days for rail mounting

Size (W × H)

• 841 × 474 mm — wide, balanced format that honours the original proportions
  Custom sizes available—contact us for a quote.

At-a-glance materials

Styling ideas

• Study or library: frame the paper edition; add a slim brass picture light for warm, antique glow.

• Exhibition cluster: choose Laminated + Rails and pair with a caption on hemispheric projections.

• Boardroom or lounge: canvas with rails above timber cabinetry for quiet authority.

• Collector’s wall: flank with regional seventeenth-century plates for a narrative suite.

Specifications

Who it’s for

• Collectors & historians of early modern cartography

• Educators, libraries & museums teaching map history and hemispheric design

• Interior designers seeking refined antique presence with scholarly depth

Claim your wall. Choose Paper for crisp, frame-ready clarity. Go Laminated + Timber Rails for tough, ready-to-hang polish. Step up to Archival Canvas + Timber Hang Rails for gallery weight. Printed in Australia with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks. Built to last. Hang it. Live with it. Keep the seventeenth-century world in view.