Stunning, large double hemisphere showing the island of California and partial shorelines of western Australia and New Zealand. An advanced depiction of the five Great Lakes includes Superior and Huron with open-ended western shores. The exquisite scenes surrounding the map are among the finest decorative motifs on early maps, rendered in lifelike detail. They were etched (rather than engraved) by the important Dutch artist, Romeyn de Hooghe. These lively scenes represent the four elements. Fire is shown by war and destruction; air by the heavens; earth by harvesting and husbandry; and water by ships, a spouting whale and mermaids. There are groups of figures tucked between the hemispheres with polar projection maps above and below. Third state with the imprint of Reiner and Josua Ottens added.

References: Shirley #444.

Condition: A

Narrow but adequate margins. Attractive later color. Impression is a little weaker in the surrounding scenes than in the map.