"America Borealis multis in locis Dei Matrem…", Scherer, Heinrich

This richly engraved map shows the island of California with a large, central mountain range. It shows the Mississippi River originating in two large lakes in present-day Canada, and the island of California is depicted with an indented top coast on the later Sanson model. A small part of the imaginary land of Anian is separated from the mainland by the Fretum Anian. This is map of North America is from a series that was created by Scherer to show the spread of Catholicism throughout the New World. The Jesuit missions in Mexico and Central America is depicted with a small symbol of a star in a circle. The map is decorated with a pictorial title cartouche depicting the conversion of Native Americans to Christianity. Ships and sea monsters embellish the oceans.

References: McLaughlin #129.

Condition: A