Catalog Archive
Auction 136, Lot 22

"Typus Orbis Terrarum", Merian, Matthaus

Subject: World

Period: 1657 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
10 x 6.8 inches
25.4 x 17.3 cm
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This interesting twin hemisphere map features the island of California, a huge southern continent and no trace yet of Australia. The most striking features of the map are the depictions of the sun and moon and Jehovah, in Hebrew, at top and interesting allegorical representations of the elements at bottom; a dragon represents fire, a phoenix for air, a flowering plant for earth and a pair of sea monsters for water. The sea is stipple engraved. This is the second state, with the title in a strapwork panel at top, published in either Gottfried's Historische Cronica (1657) or Gorhm's Vermehrte Archotologica Cosmica (1695).

References: Shirley #356A.

Condition: A

Minor toning in blank margins.

Estimate: $750 - $950

Sold for: $600

Closed on 6/1/2011

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