Mapmakers of the Historic
Lithuanian Area: M
Lithuanian Area: M
Studied medicine, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy at the University of Bologna, where he became
Professor of Astronomy. Colleague of Ortelius, Tycho Brahe, Gallileo and Johannes Kepler. His most
important work was the first printed map of Italy, based on maps by Gastaldi, and published posthumously
by his son, Fabio -- its maps were later used by Blaeu and Ortelius, among others. He edited a new edition of
Ptolemy's "Geographica," Venice, 1596, with later editions to 1621. The maps were drawn by Girolamo
Porro, and included a reduced version of Mercator's atlas. He also edited the atlas to "Geographiae
Universae," Cologne, 1597, and "Moderne tavola di Geografia," Venice, 1597-98.
Professor of Astronomy. Colleague of Ortelius, Tycho Brahe, Gallileo and Johannes Kepler. His most
important work was the first printed map of Italy, based on maps by Gastaldi, and published posthumously
by his son, Fabio -- its maps were later used by Blaeu and Ortelius, among others. He edited a new edition of
Ptolemy's "Geographica," Venice, 1596, with later editions to 1621. The maps were drawn by Girolamo
Porro, and included a reduced version of Mercator's atlas. He also edited the atlas to "Geographiae
Universae," Cologne, 1597, and "Moderne tavola di Geografia," Venice, 1597-98.
Magini, Giovanni (Ionnis) Antonio (Antonii): 1555 - 1617, born Padua, Italy
Makowski, Tomasz: c1575 - 1630
Polish draftsman, engraver and printer in the service of Lithuanian Prince Radziwill. His "Magnus Ducatus Lithuaniae..." of 1613,
engraved by Hessel Gerritsz (not Prince Radziwill, as some have claimed), was used by Blaeu from 1613 to 1635.
Polish draftsman, engraver and printer in the service of Lithuanian Prince Radziwill. His "Magnus Ducatus Lithuaniae..." of 1613,
engraved by Hessel Gerritsz (not Prince Radziwill, as some have claimed), was used by Blaeu from 1613 to 1635.
Mayer, Tobias (and son Johann Tobias): 1723 - 1762, born Marbach, died
Gottingen, Germany
Mathematician and astronomer, he began working for Homann Heirs (for whom he created maps of
Germany and Poland, including for "Major Atlas Scholasticus") in 1746. In 1749 Homann Heirs published
his map of the moon -- the first with accurately measured craters. A crater on the moon is named after
him. He received his C.P.S.C.M.G. (Cum Privilegio Sacræ Cæsaræ Majestatis Gratia) some time after 1749.
He moved to Gottingen in 1751 to become a professor of mathematics. In 1765 he was co-winner of a prize
for discovering a means of measuring longitude while at sea. His son, Johann Tobias Mayer (1752-1830),
who is often confused for his father, created the map "Royaume de Pologne..." in 1813.
Gottingen, Germany
Mathematician and astronomer, he began working for Homann Heirs (for whom he created maps of
Germany and Poland, including for "Major Atlas Scholasticus") in 1746. In 1749 Homann Heirs published
his map of the moon -- the first with accurately measured craters. A crater on the moon is named after
him. He received his C.P.S.C.M.G. (Cum Privilegio Sacræ Cæsaræ Majestatis Gratia) some time after 1749.
He moved to Gottingen in 1751 to become a professor of mathematics. In 1765 he was co-winner of a prize
for discovering a means of measuring longitude while at sea. His son, Johann Tobias Mayer (1752-1830),
who is often confused for his father, created the map "Royaume de Pologne..." in 1813.
Geographer, astronomer, globe-maker, engraver, cartographer, mathematician, publisher. In
1569 he introduced the projection that finally allowed navigators to plot a constant compass
bearing on a flat map. He planned a cosmography in five volumes under the name "Atlas," but
he completed only a few parts -- including a map of Lithuania -- the balance was completed by
his son Rumold. Plates for the completed Atlas passed on to the Hondius family in 1604. He
also produced a wall map of Europe in 15 sheets, 1554; an Atlas of Europe, c1570-72; and a
definitive version of Ptolemy's "Geographia" in 1578.
1569 he introduced the projection that finally allowed navigators to plot a constant compass
bearing on a flat map. He planned a cosmography in five volumes under the name "Atlas," but
he completed only a few parts -- including a map of Lithuania -- the balance was completed by
his son Rumold. Plates for the completed Atlas passed on to the Hondius family in 1604. He
also produced a wall map of Europe in 15 sheets, 1554; an Atlas of Europe, c1570-72; and a
definitive version of Ptolemy's "Geographia" in 1578.
Mercator, Gerard (Gerardo, Gerhard) de Cremer (Latinized to
Gerard Mercator ["Merchant"] (Cramer, de Cramere, Kremer):
1512 - 1594. Born in Gangelt (Germany at the time), died in Duisburg
(Belgium)
Gerard Mercator ["Merchant"] (Cramer, de Cramere, Kremer):
1512 - 1594. Born in Gangelt (Germany at the time), died in Duisburg
(Belgium)
Meyer (Meijer) Family and the Bibliographisches Institut, Germany
The Meyer (Meijer) family, well-known publishers of encyclopedias and atlases, was essentially begun by Joseph (1796-1856)
who founded the Bibliographisches Institut in Gotha in 1826. It moved to Hilburghausen in 1828, and wound up in Leipzig in
1874. From 1884-1914, the firm was in the hands of Joseph's four grandsons, three of whom were also cartographers: Hans,
Arndt, and Carl Emil. Some of their notable atlases: "Meyer's Schul-Atlas der Neusten Erdbeschreibung" (39 maps), "Meyer's
Pfennig Atlas" (115 maps), "Meyer's Universal-Atlas" (64 maps), "Meyer's Grosser Hand-Atlas..." (170 maps), "Ravenstein's
Hand-Atlas," and "Historischen Atlas," 1911.
The Meyer (Meijer) family, well-known publishers of encyclopedias and atlases, was essentially begun by Joseph (1796-1856)
who founded the Bibliographisches Institut in Gotha in 1826. It moved to Hilburghausen in 1828, and wound up in Leipzig in
1874. From 1884-1914, the firm was in the hands of Joseph's four grandsons, three of whom were also cartographers: Hans,
Arndt, and Carl Emil. Some of their notable atlases: "Meyer's Schul-Atlas der Neusten Erdbeschreibung" (39 maps), "Meyer's
Pfennig Atlas" (115 maps), "Meyer's Universal-Atlas" (64 maps), "Meyer's Grosser Hand-Atlas..." (170 maps), "Ravenstein's
Hand-Atlas," and "Historischen Atlas," 1911.
Meyer (Meijer, Mejer), Pieter (Peter): Active 1755 - 1768, Amsterdam
Book and map seller, publisher. Most relevant for this site: "Kleine Atlas," Amsterdam, 1768, with maps copied from Emanuel
Bowen.
Book and map seller, publisher. Most relevant for this site: "Kleine Atlas," Amsterdam, 1768, with maps copied from Emanuel
Bowen.
Müller, Johann Ulrich: 1633 - 1715, Ulm
Military engineer and cartographer in service of the Holy Roman Emperor, he created maps of Hungary, Germany and eastern
Europe for Georg Kuehen and G.C. Bodenehr's "Atlas minor sive orbis terrae," Augsburg.
Military engineer and cartographer in service of the Holy Roman Emperor, he created maps of Hungary, Germany and eastern
Europe for Georg Kuehen and G.C. Bodenehr's "Atlas minor sive orbis terrae," Augsburg.
Münster, Professor Sebastian: 1488 - 1552. Born Nieder-Ingelheim,
near Mainz, died Basle
German cosmographer, theologian, ordained as a priest in 1512, scholar. Best known for his
Basle editions of Ptolemy's "Geographia," and the maps he made to accompany them: 1540,
1542, 1545, 1552 -- each with 48 double-page woodcut maps. His "Cosmographia Universalis,"
with 500 woodcuts, and 24 double-page maps, was published in editions from 1544 until 1628.
near Mainz, died Basle
German cosmographer, theologian, ordained as a priest in 1512, scholar. Best known for his
Basle editions of Ptolemy's "Geographia," and the maps he made to accompany them: 1540,
1542, 1545, 1552 -- each with 48 double-page woodcut maps. His "Cosmographia Universalis,"
with 500 woodcuts, and 24 double-page maps, was published in editions from 1544 until 1628.
Merian, Matthäus (Mattheiu; Matheus; Matthew) the Elder:
1593 - 1650; born Basle, Switzerland
Matthaus the Elder was a draftsman, engraver and publisher active, in Basle, Zurich,
Strasbourg and Frankfurt, renowned for his town views and plans. Merian learned the art
of copperplate engraving in Zürich. He next worked and studied in Strasbourg, Nancy, and
Paris, before returning to Basel in 1615. The following year he moved to Frankfurt,
Germany where he worked for the publisher Johann Theodor de Bry, the son of renowned
engraver and traveler Theodor de Bry.
In 1617, Merian married his publisher's daughter. They had numerous children, including
a daughter, Anna Maria Sibylla Merian, in 1647, who became a pioneering naturalist and
illustrator. Two of their sons followed Merian into publishing. With Martin Zeiler (1589 -
1661), a German geographer, and later (circa 1640) with his own son, Matthäus the
Younger" (1621 - 1687), Matthaus the Elder produced a series of topographia in a
21-volume set collectively known as the "Topographia Germaniae." It includes numerous
town plans and views, as well as maps of most countries and a World Map. It was such a
popular work that it was re-issued in many editions. He also took over and completed the
later parts and editions of the "Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages," originally started by
de Bry in 1590. The German travel magazine Merian is named after him. After his death,
his sons Matthäus Jr. and Caspar, also an engraver, took over the publishing house. They
continued publishing the "Topographia Germaniae" and the "Theatrum Europaeum"
under the name Merian Erben -- Merian Heirs.
1593 - 1650; born Basle, Switzerland
Matthaus the Elder was a draftsman, engraver and publisher active, in Basle, Zurich,
Strasbourg and Frankfurt, renowned for his town views and plans. Merian learned the art
of copperplate engraving in Zürich. He next worked and studied in Strasbourg, Nancy, and
Paris, before returning to Basel in 1615. The following year he moved to Frankfurt,
Germany where he worked for the publisher Johann Theodor de Bry, the son of renowned
engraver and traveler Theodor de Bry.
In 1617, Merian married his publisher's daughter. They had numerous children, including
a daughter, Anna Maria Sibylla Merian, in 1647, who became a pioneering naturalist and
illustrator. Two of their sons followed Merian into publishing. With Martin Zeiler (1589 -
1661), a German geographer, and later (circa 1640) with his own son, Matthäus the
Younger" (1621 - 1687), Matthaus the Elder produced a series of topographia in a
21-volume set collectively known as the "Topographia Germaniae." It includes numerous
town plans and views, as well as maps of most countries and a World Map. It was such a
popular work that it was re-issued in many editions. He also took over and completed the
later parts and editions of the "Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages," originally started by
de Bry in 1590. The German travel magazine Merian is named after him. After his death,
his sons Matthäus Jr. and Caspar, also an engraver, took over the publishing house. They
continued publishing the "Topographia Germaniae" and the "Theatrum Europaeum"
under the name Merian Erben -- Merian Heirs.
| Matthaus Merian the Elder |
| 1612 Matthaus Merian the Elder: "Frankfurt Stadtansicht" |
Robert Morden: d. 1703, London
An English geographer/publisher/bookseller/globemaker who collaborated with many others in producing everything from
playing cards to maps. His miniature (200 x 153mm / 7 x 6 inches) "Geography rectified: or, A Description of the World,"
London, was first published with Thomas Cockeril in 1680. It included a world map and 62 hand-colored country maps,
including a page headed "Of Poland" with a 5 x 5.5 inch map with an oval cartouche titled "Poland." A second edition, with
76 maps, was published in 1688, and additional editions in 1693 and 1700. Those are the four possible publication dates for
the miniature map of Poland. Other Morden collaborations frequently mentioned by map sources, such as "Geography
Anatomised," did not include the miniature Poland map. A larger map, 22 x 17.3 inches, titled "A New Mapp of the Estates of
the Crown of Poland. Containing: the Kingdom of Poland the Dutchies & Provinces of Prussia. Cuiavia. Mazovia. Russia Nigra.
Lithuania. Podolia. Volhinia the Ukraine &c," was published c1690 in London.
An English geographer/publisher/bookseller/globemaker who collaborated with many others in producing everything from
playing cards to maps. His miniature (200 x 153mm / 7 x 6 inches) "Geography rectified: or, A Description of the World,"
London, was first published with Thomas Cockeril in 1680. It included a world map and 62 hand-colored country maps,
including a page headed "Of Poland" with a 5 x 5.5 inch map with an oval cartouche titled "Poland." A second edition, with
76 maps, was published in 1688, and additional editions in 1693 and 1700. Those are the four possible publication dates for
the miniature map of Poland. Other Morden collaborations frequently mentioned by map sources, such as "Geography
Anatomised," did not include the miniature Poland map. A larger map, 22 x 17.3 inches, titled "A New Mapp of the Estates of
the Crown of Poland. Containing: the Kingdom of Poland the Dutchies & Provinces of Prussia. Cuiavia. Mazovia. Russia Nigra.
Lithuania. Podolia. Volhinia the Ukraine &c," was published c1690 in London.
