Catalog Archive
Auction 118, Lot 113

"Novus Orbis potius Altera Continens Sive Atlantis Insula a Nicolao Sanson Antiquitati Restituta…", Sanson, Guillaume

Subject: Western Hemisphere

Period: 1741 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
24 x 15.8 inches
61 x 40.1 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This is a very unusual map of the Americas, noted in the cartouche to illustrate the mythical island of Atlantis. The Great Lakes are shown but are still very misshapen and open-ended in the west. A large lake in the western part of North America is the source of a river that empties into the sea between the continent and the island of California. The map includes both Asian and European coastlines and bits of New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia. This is a purely topographical map and the only cities shown are Mexico City and Cuzco, depicting the capitals of the New World. The large cartouche is surrounded by Neptune and his ten sons. This is a completely re-engraved map published by Robert de Vaugondy. The cartography is identical to Sanson's map of 1669 but the title and cartouche have been altered.

References: McLaughlin #223.

Condition: B

There is a repaired hole in the upper border and a previous owner has altered the date from 1741 to 1641. Side margins have been extended (from already good sized margins) evidently for binding into a composite atlas.

Estimate: $900 - $1,100

Sold for: $700

Closed on 3/6/2007

Archived