This lot of miniature maps from Mallet's great Description de l'Univers covers the North and South Poles. The map of the North Pole is on an azimuth equidistant polar projection with only the landmass outlines shown and named. The northern tip of the Island of California is shown, as well as Terre de Jesso, which is prominently named. The South Pole map is on a circular south-polar projection depicting the continents with partial coastlines for Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. It includes a partial island labeled Terre de Quir as well as the southern portions of Africa and South America. Unlike Continent Meridional Austral ou Antarctique, a very similar map from the same publication, there is no sign of the southern continent here. French text on verso.

References: McLaughlin #82-1; Pastoureau, Manesson-Mallet I [76] & [78].

Condition: B+

Nice impressions on lightly toned sheets with a bit of foxing.