This is one of the most decorative eighteenth century world maps. The two hemispheres are surrounded by vivid engravings of natural phenomena such as a rainbow, earthquakes, and a volcano. Wind heads occupy the starry heavens, and two putti hold the title banner aloft. The map itself shows a typical geographical view of the period. An indistinct Terra Esonis appears above California, here depicted as a peninsula. The partial coastlines of Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea are noted. Australia is shown to be separate from New Guinea, Carpentaria and Van Diemen's Land. Nova Britannia is shown as a separate island off the coast of New Guinea with the notation that it was discovered by Dampier in 1700. Several explorer's tracks are traced, including Magellan, Dampier, Tasman, Gaetani and Charmont. Nestled between the hemispheres are two detailed celestial maps. Text panels at bottom describe the natural phenomena. A key in the lower margin explains the color coding, which divides the world into various religious sects. Homann borrowed both the cartography and depictions of natural phenomenon from Zurner's similar map circa 1700.

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Condition: B+

On watermarked paper with light damp stains along the sheet edges that enter the image primarily at lower left. A centerfold separation at bottom that extends 1.5" into the image has been closed on verso with both old paper and archival tape. Paper tape lines the edges of the sheet on verso.