Pair of scarce polar gores, or calottes, for one of Coronelli's largest globes. The North Pole depicts the Arctic north of the 70th degree latitude with a 7-line description around the North Pole. Notations are included to identify the discoveries of several Arctic explorers in Baffin's Bay, Davis Straight, Greenland, Spitzberg and Nova Zembla. The sheet is beautifully engraved with fascinating scenes of men hunting various animals and monsters - polar bear, walrus, seal, whale, and swordfish. Coronelli is well known for making a concerted effort to delineate only verified discoveries and these maps are perfect example of his careful cartography. As nothing was known of the South Pole, this map is completely devoid of any cartographic detail. Instead Corornelli records notes in each segment of longitude concerning both what was known and speculation. The sheet is dominated by a large figured cartouche containing a description of Magellan's circumnavigation.

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Condition: A

Clean and crisp with fine later color. Professional and nearly invisible repairs on centerfolds including restoration of a couple of wormholes.