Subject: World
Period: 1638 (circa)
Publication:
Color: Hand Color
Size:
14 x 9.8 inches
35.6 x 24.9 cm
Beautifully engraved world map on Mercator's projection. The cartography was closely copied from Blaeu's world map of 1606. Latin title at top, outside neatline, with German gothic script title and a notation concerning the discovery of the Americas in 1492 that covers the unknown interior of North America. There is a large southern continent connected to New Guinea, California is a peninsula, and there are plenty of open ended waterways in the eastern part of North America, which leave open the question of a Northwest Passage. Two polar projections in lower corners. The map is richly adorned with sea monsters, galleons and compass roses. First state with Merian's signature bottom right.
References: Shirley #345.
Condition: A+