Pair of scarce, beautifully engraved 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 sea 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 examples of his careful cartography. As nothing was known of the South Pole, this map is completely devoid of any cartographic detail. Instead Coronelli 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.

References: Kershaw #169.

Condition: A

Sharp impressions with faint centerfold toning and one small spot of foxing.