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 that 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 are supported by a host of putti and contain notes with keys to the map. The entire bottom of the map is decorated with the distance scale and title cartouche replete with a geographer and his globe, mermaids, putti and allegorical figures.

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Condition: B+

Beautiful, dark and early impression with minor toning. The margins are close as issued and have a little toning and a couple of short tears.