Antonio de Herrera Y Tordesillas was the official historian of Spain and the Indies. He compiled a history of the Spanish conquests and early explorations in the Americas, which included this simply engraved map of the Caribbean. His work (Historia general de los hechos de los Castellanos) was originally published in 1601 with several editions and translations thereafter, all of which are scarce. This map is from an early 18th century edition published by Nicolas Rodriguez. The cartography is based on the manuscript charts of Juan Lopez de Velasco (c. 1575-80). This map is an excellent view of the Spanish presence in Florida, the West Indies and northern South America. The distinctive narrow Florida peninsula includes a fairly accurate delineation of the R. de S. Matheo (St. Johns River) with a large lake at its headwaters. There are several place names, including S. Augustin (St. Augustine) and Pta del Canaveral.

References: Burden #142 and Addendum.

Condition: A

Issued folding with wide margins. A nice impression with faint damp stains in bottom blank margin, barely entering neatline at bottom left.