Hondius acquired Marcator's plates in 1604, added to them and re-issued the atlas in 1606, followed by many subsequent editions, including in different languages, until 1666. This is the first French edition; text translated from the Latin edition of 1607. Includes one new map: (96) Rügen. Relief shown pictorially. Latitudinal and longitudinal lines along margins. Title translation: Atlas, or, cosmogaphic meditations on the fabric of the world and the figures of the fabric. Vellum binding. First 4 and last 4 pages blank (included in page description). Engraved title page and head and tail-pieces throughout. Indexes: Indice des tables de cest oeuvre, ou des descriptions d'icelles; Index sur la table generale d'Angleterre, d'Escosse & d'Irlande; Index en la table de Norvvege et Svece; Index en la table Vniverselle de la Gaule; Index des lieux de la table generale de la Germanie Inferieure; Index des lieux de la table generale de Germanie; Index des lieux de la table generale d'Italie; Indice.; Indice des tables d'Italie et de Grece. Section titles: Galliae tabule geographicae per Gerardum Mercatorem illustrissimi Ducis Iulie Cliuie Montis et cosmographum ...; Belgii in Ferioris geographicae tabule ...; Germaniae tabule geographicae ...; Italiae, Sclavoniae, et Graeciae tabule geographice ... Introductory text. Descriptive texts on versos of maps. Decorative cartouches, compass roses, rhumb lines. Maps show topography, vegetation, waterways, ports. Multiple maps on certain plates (e.g. Maps 25, 26, 27 and 28 together). Map 1 shows world, including: Terra Australis; Circulus Antarcticus; Polus Arcticus; Polus Antarcticus. Map 7 (round) shows the North Pole. Atlas title and map titles in Latin; text in French. This copy has hand-written spine title; pencil inscriptions inside front cover: 43; Reserved till end July; 750; and on page [1]: 21. Stamp: Admiralty Library. Page 296 misprinted as 297; 314 is blank and unnumbered.