This is one of the most elaborately decorated maps delineating the tip of South America including the Strait of Magellan and Le Maire Strait. Several strange creatures are shown in the interior, including rheas 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, flanked by a man and a globe, and the title cartouche, which is replete with mermaids, putti and allegorical figures.

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Condition: B+

Fine, dark impression with very wide margins. In lower margin along centerfold are two small dark areas, and some weakness also along centerfold repaired with archival paper on verso. A few marginal tears well closed on verso with archival tissue.