Antonio de Herrera Y Tordesillas was the official historian to the King of Spain. He compiled a history of the Spanish conquests in the Americas that included this map of the Audiencia of Panama. 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 simple outline map shows the strategically important Isthmus of Panama, across which Inca treasure was carried from the city of Panama to the fortress at Nombre de Dios. The lack of detail is in keeping with the official policy of protecting Spanish knowledge in the New World. This map had a long history as it was re-engraved and copied multiple times after its first appearance in 1601. This is the final plate, which most closely resembles the first plate but with Mar del Sur and Mar del Norte engraved in more decorative script, and was published by Nicolas Rodriguez in Madrid in Historia General de los Hechos de los Castellanos…, 1726-30.

References: Kapp (MCC-73) #4; Sabin #31546; Shirley (BL Atlases) G.HERR-4a.

Condition: A

A nice impression, issued folding, with wide margins.