Antonio de Herrera Y Tordelisllas 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 is the first plate, with no border or gap between the western edge of the map and neatline.

References: Kapp (MCC-73) #3; Shirley (BL Atlases) G.HERR-1a #8.

Condition: B+

On a wide-margined sheet with the watermark of the initials "BF" below a cross within a teardrop. There is light toning along the centerfold, faint spots at right, and printer's ink residue.