"Tabula Geographico-Hydrographica Motus Oceani, Currentes, Abyssos, Montes Igniuomos in Universo Orbe...", Kircher, Athanasius
Subject: World
Period: 1665 (circa)
Publication: D'Onder-Aardse Weereld
Color: Black & White
Size:
22.1 x 13.4 inches
56.1 x 34 cm
The Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher was one of the first compilers of semi-scientific knowledge about the physical features of the world. This extraordinary map depicts ocean currents, volcanoes, and deep-sea chasms. The continents are void of political detail and only major lakes, rivers, and volcanoes are shown. There are prominent Northwest and Northeast sea passages and a vast southern continent. Kircher's theories included the notion that the world's oceans were all interconnected and subterranean tunnels are shown connecting the oceans and seas. Published in a Dutch edition of Kircher's famous Subterranean World.
References:
Condition: B
A nice impression issued folding with a couple extraneous creases, light soiling, and a few short tears around a fold intersection at bottom that have been closed on verso with tape. There is a 3" tear in North America that has been repaired with archival materials and a 1.5" tear at right that has been closed with tape on verso.