First state of this striking small map of the Americas, created to illustrate the travels of Jose de Acosta, a Spanish-born Jesuit missionary who spent many years in Panama, Peru and Mexico and later published several works describing his observations and experiences in Latin America. The island of California is depicted with a flat northern coast named Nova Albion. The northwest coast is indented with the Straet Anian, which separates the continent from Anian. The St. Lawrence River connects with a single large interior lake, which is open-ended in the west. South America is shown with the large interior lake Parime and the huge R. de la Plata of Paraguay. Pictorial cartouche takes up most of the Pacific and shows colonial and Native American figures under a tent taking measurements on a globe.

References: McLaughlin #167.

Condition: B+

A dark impression with attractive color, minor toning, and a small chip in top blank margin that has been professionally repaired.