Subject: South America
Period: 1818 (dated)
Publication: Grand Atlas Universal
Color: Hand Color
Size:
25.6 x 21.3 inches
65 x 54.1 cm
This lot contains the four matching quadrant maps plus the key map. The four quadrant sheets show South America in enormous detail including rivers, villages and towns, mountains, political boundaries and very fine coastal detail. Large inset on the lower right sheet continues Argentina on the same scale to include Terre de Fuego and the Straits of Magellan. The four are meant to be joined into a stunning map that would together measure 59" x 43.5". The upper right sheet has the title in decorative lettering with fancy flourishes. The legend identifies Colonial holds with hand color including Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, English, Holland and France. The key map is on the same size sheet and is an identical but reduced image of the larger map. Each of the maps is on a full sheet measuring 39" x 26.5". A rarely encountered set of matching elephant folio maps from this scarce atlas. Dated 1816 in the title with 1818 in an oval cartouche below.
References:
Condition: B+
Very nice impression and original hand coloring on thick hand laid paper with wide margins and deckled edges. The maps have a few scattered light spots. A little darkening along edges of paper.