This elegant map is from the first sea atlas based on Mercator's projection. The map covers the South Pacific from the Solomon Islands to the coast of Peru. Dudley, a skilled mathematician and navigator, was exiled from England and settled in Florence where his atlas was published. The chart, beautifully engraved by Antonio Lucini, is embellished with a title cartouche, large compass rose, a sailing ship and graceful calligraphy. Two sheets, joined, as issued. This is the second state, with "Lo.6o." added to the title cartouche.

Robert Dudley was the first Englishman to produce a sea atlas, Dell Arcano del Mare (Secrets of the Sea). He introduced a totally new style for sea charts in the atlas with only lines of latitude and longitude and no rhumb lines. The charts were meticulously compiled from original sources and were both scientific and accurate for the time. This important atlas was the first sea atlas of the whole world; the first to use Mercator's projection throughout; the earliest to show the prevailing winds, currents and magnetic deviation; and the first to expound the advantages of Great Circle Sailing. In an introductory leaf found in one copy in the British Library, the engraver states that he worked on the plates in seclusion for twelve years in an obscure Tuscan village, using no less than 5,000 pounds of copper for the printing plates. It was only issued in two editions and the maps are rarely seen on the market. This map is from the second edition.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) M.DUD-1b.

Condition: B+

A sharp impression on paper with watermarks of a sun and the initials "SC." There is light toning along the joint and some light damp stains along the centerfold and edges of the sheet.