Catalog Archive
Auction 129, Lot 376

"Insulae Americanae in Oceano Septentrionali ac Regiones Adiacentes, a C. de May usque ad Lineam Aequinoctialem", Visscher, Nicolas

Subject: Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean

Period: 1682 (circa)

Publication: Atlas Minor

Color: Hand Color

Size:
22.3 x 18.3 inches
56.6 x 46.5 cm
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This handsome map of focuses on the West Indies and covers the region from the Chesapeake through the Gulf of Mexico, with Central America and the northern part of South America. Two lovely cartouches with cherubs and mermaids decorate opposite corners. Eight ships sail the seas and three native canoes are depicted off the coast of North America. A number of interesting cartographic myths appear on the map. These include two large nonexistent lakes in the region of western Georgia and a non-existent mountain range extending from the Piedmonts bearing across the North American continent. In South America, the archetypal cartographic myth, Manoa o' El Dorado (the golden city), is located on the shores of the Lacus Parime vel Roponowini in Guyana. This is the second state with the addition of the privilege in the cartouche.

References: Burden #531.

Condition: B

The original color has been refreshed including some gold highlights. There is some uneven toning in the map. It is backed with tissue with some professional (leaf-casting method) paper restoration in the margins. Still a handsome and sound example of a desirable map.

Estimate: $600 - $800

Sold for: $550

Closed on 9/23/2009

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