"Tabula Magellanica, qua Tierrae del Fuego, cum Celeberrimis Fretis a F. Magellano et I. Le Maire…", Montanus, Arnoldus

This is one of the most elaborately decorated maps focusing on the tip of South America with the Strait of Magellan and Le Maire Strait. Several strange creatures are shown in the interior, including rheas, which are being stalked by hunters, penguins, a giant anteater and many minutely engraves natives. Numerous ships are engaged in combat in the waters off the west coast. The map is further adorned with a pair of compass roses, and four beautiful cartouches. The top two cartouches have notes with keys to the map, and they are surrounded by putti and drapes. The two bottom cartouches are for the scale of miles, surrounded with a man and a globe, and the title cartouche, which is replete with mermaids, putti and allegorical figures.

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Condition: B

Beautiful impression and lovely color. Narrow margins as issued, still sufficient for framing. The map is professionally backed with Japanese tissue, repairing some worm tracks at top and bottom centerfold.