This is one of the most well-known and attractive wall maps from the latter part of the 18th century. The huge double-hemisphere map of the world is surrounded by celestial hemispheres, a chart of the solar system, an inset world map on Mercator's projection, a map of the moon, and a fascinating explanation of the Vicissitude of Seasons (with a great graphic of the sun). The large world map shows the tracks and discoveries of major voyages, including those of Captains George Anson, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, Lazier Bouvet, Aleksei Chirikov, and James Cook's first voyage. In North America, Alaska and the northwest coastline are illustrated with dashed lines to indicate the lack of information about the area. The "pretended entrance of Admiral Fonte" is shown adjacent to the "entrance found by Juan de Fuca." A dashed line also represents the River of the West, which extends from the "entrance of Martin d'Aguilar" to L. Ounipigon or Winipig. In South America, a small remnant of the mythical L. Parima appears in Guiana. A partial coastline of Antarctica (which remains unnamed) and several notations regarding explorations in the area are depicted in the Southern Ocean. In the south Pacific, Tasmania is still attached to Australia, labeled Now Holland.

The map was first issued in 1772 and was updated and reissued several times over a 30-year period. This is the original edition, published by Robert Sayer on November 20, 1772. Printed on four sheets, with the upper and lower pairs of sheets joined. If all four sheets were joined the map would measure 48 x 41".

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Condition: B+

Nice impressions on paper with large fleur-de-lis coat of arms watermarks, very light soiling, and professional repairs to several separations along the centerfolds of each sheet as well as to two tears (a 1" tear in the upper Midwest US and a 5" tear between the two northern hemispheres). There is a printer's crease in the bottom left sheet at far left. The top two joined sheets have been expertly remargined at bottom. Please note that the first image is a composite image that shows what the sheets would look like if joined - only the upper two sheets are joined and the lower two sheets are joined.