Subject: South America - Southern
Period: 1671 (published)
Publication:
Color: Hand Color
Size:
14 x 11.3 inches
35.6 x 28.7 cm
This is one of the most elaborately decorated maps focusing on the tip of South America with the Strait of Magellan and Le Maire Strait. Several strange creatures are shown in the interior, including rheas, which are being stalked by hunters, penguins, a giant anteater and many minutely engraved natives. Numerous ships are engaged in combat in the waters off the west coast. The map is further adorned with a pair of compass roses, and four beautiful cartouches. The top two cartouches have notes with keys to the map, and they are surrounded by putti and drapes. The two bottom cartouches are for the scale of miles, surrounded with a man and a globe, and the title cartouche, which is replete with mermaids, putti and allegorical figures.
References:
Condition: A
Light toning at the top of centerold. Hinge remnants on verso.