Classic single-sheet map of the world on Mercator's projection first brought out by Willem Blaeu in 1606. It remained in active circulation for over fifty years, and is celebrated as one of the supreme examples of the mapmaker's art. Based on Blaeu's large world map of 1605, this reduced version was originally issued separately, and later appeared in atlases. This example is from an atlas, and is the fourth state, identifiable by the addition of Blaeu's name to the title, and the omission of the 1606 date in the plate. The map began appearing with text on the verso around 1635, and was last issued in 1658, when it was superseded by a double-hemisphere world map by Willem's son Joan Blaeu. Shirley notes that "The most striking characteristics of Blaeu's map are the superb border decorations. Along the top are allegorical representations of the sun and moon and the five known planets - Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Down the sides are, on the left, four panels illustrating the elements (Fire, Air, Water and Earth), and on the right, the four seasons. Along the bottom are seven vignettes showing the seven wonders of the world: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Colossus over the harbour of Rhodes, the Pyramids (very quaintly depicted), the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus at Caria, the Temple of Diana (in Dutch baroque style), the Statue of Jupiter, and the conical lighthouse of Alexandria." The coloring on the present example seems fairly old, but its date is uncertain.