Current Auction
Lot 171
Current Auction

One of the Most Important 17th Century Maps of the Chesapeake Bay in Full Contemporary Color

"Nova Virginiae Tabula", Hondius, Henricus

Subject: Colonial Mid-Atlantic United States

Period: 1638 (published)

Publication: Atlas Novus

Color: Hand Color

Size:
19.5 x 15 inches
49.5 x 38.1 cm
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This graphic map is Henricus Hondius' version of Capt. John Smith's important map of 1612, drawn from his brother's map of 1618. After the death of Jodocus Hondius in 1629, his widow sold a number of plates to Blaeu. Angry at the sale to a competitor, Henricus and Joannes Jansson engaged engravers to cut new plates, which were largely based on Jodocus' work. This is the 5th derivative of Smith's map. It is beautifully engraved with topographical features and the locations of scores of Indian villages. In the upper left corner is an engraving of the great Indian chief Powhatan seated on his throne and surrounded by his subjects. A Susquehanna chief, facing in toward Chesapeake Bay (opposite of Jodocus' plate), is depicted on the right under a coat of arms. Latin text on verso.

See also lot 789 for Philip Burden's The Mapping of North America - A List of Printed Maps 1511-1670 that describes this map.

References: Burden #228; Tooley (Amer) pp. 165-66; Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #9410:1.

Condition: B+

Full contemporary color with a bit of uneven toning at top and a few small spots. The text signature was added in manuscript ink on verso, which shows through a bit on recto at bottom left. There are remnants of hinge tape on verso.

Estimate: $1,800 - $2,100

Sold for: $1,300

Closed on 11/20/2024

Closed