"Nueva Hispania Tabula Nova", Ruscelli, Girolamo

This early map of New Spain is an enlarged version of Gastaldi's map of 1548 with the only notable change being the peninsular Yucatan. The legendary seven cities of Civola are noted and Mexico City is shown floating in a large lake. The place names along the upper Gulf Coast reveal the explorations of Pineda, Cabeza de Vaca and Moscosso. The Mississippi makes its appearance as the Rio de Spiritu Santo and the R. Tontonteanc flows in the vicinity of the Colorado River. This is the first state of this foundation map in the cartography of the American Southwest, and a must for collectors of that region.

References: Burden #31; Martin & Martin, plt. 3; Wheat, (TMW) #7.

Condition: B

Light soil. Worm track at centerfold, with a small amount of loss and a paper repair on verso. Margins with tape on verso.