"Abissinorum Regnu", Hondius/Purchas
Subject: Central Africa
Period: 1625 (circa)
Publication: Purchas His Pilgrimes...
Color: Hand Color
Size:
7.1 x 5.4 inches
18 x 13.7 cm
Charming little map with a fair amount of detail on the eastern coast, reflecting colonial trading interests. Below the equator there are the two large lakes where the Nile originates, Zaire / Zembre and Zaftan. The map is decorated with a strapwork title and scale cartouche. The map originally appeared in the Mercator/Hondius Atlas Minor and was used here by Purchas with the additional title above the map, "The Voyage of Sir Francis Alvarez, a Portugall Priest, made unto the Court of Prete Ianni, the great Christian Emperour of Ethiopia," referring to the mythical kingdom of Prester John. On a sheet of English text measuring 8.6 x 13.4".
References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.PUR-1a #20.
Condition: A
A crisp impression with some light creasing.