A Seminal Map of the Southeast and Early American Cartography

"Virginiae Item et Floridae Americae Provinciarum, Nova Descriptio", Hondius, Jodocus

This stunning map was compiled from two of the most important source maps of the early colonial period: John White's Virginia and Jacques le Moyne's Florida. Hondius' map became the prototype map of the region for the first half of the 17th century and continued to influence the cartography of the region until the middle of the 18th century. Largely due to the enormous success of Hondius' Atlas, Le Moyne's erroneous depiction of a large inland lake (Lacus aquae dulcis) from which the R. de May (St. John's River) flows in a southeasterly direction was popularized. Chesapeake Bay, here called Chesepioock Sinus, and the area south towards C.S. Romano Hispanis are shown in their White delineations. The Indian villages of Paquiwok, Croatoan, and Wococon are named in the Outer Banks and several others along the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. The map is extensively decorated with depictions of Indian villages incorporated in the title cartouche, a Floridian king and queen and Virginian natives in a canoe taken from De Bry, wildlife including a wild turkey, ships, sea monsters and a superb compass rose. From the first atlas with Henricus Hondius' name on the title page. Latin text on verso.

References: Burden #151; Cumming (SE) #26; Williams & Johnson #3; Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #9400:1A.

Condition: B+

There are a few minor stains in the image and a printer's crease adjacent to the centerfold at right. A short centerfold separation confined to the bottom blank margin has been closed with old paper on both recto and verso. Minor soiling mostly in the blank margins.