Joseph Moxon, a little-known English cartographer, designed this interesting world map for publication in bibles. The map illustrates how the world was divided up among the sons of Noah after the Flood. It is centered on the Old World and only the place names are concentrated there. The rest of the world is shown only with continental outlines, rivers and lakes. The island of California appears across the expansive Pacific Ocean where there are partial outlines for Australia and New Zealand. A series of vignettes surround the map illustrating the Creation and the Garden of Eden at top, with scenes from the Fall of Man to the Crucifixion of Christ at bottom. Two cartouches further decorate the sheet, including a dedication to Gilbert Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury. This is Visscher's version of the first state of this very uncommon map, which was published in a Dutch Bible. Moxon's table of place names has been removed and Visscher's imprint appears between the two cartouches. It is not mentioned by Shirley.

References: cf Shirley #457.

Condition: B+

Dark impression with some minor spots. The map has been professionally conserved with expert repairs on the centerfold and folds at sides including a tear through the vignette at lower right. The repairs are very well done and only noticeable on the verso. There are a few very tiny scattered worm holes that are not repaired.