"America noviter delineata", Merian, Matthaus

Merian prepared this reduced version of his 1631 map for the German translation of Pierre d'Avity's Les Empires du Monde and it accompanied other works of the period including Theatrum Europaeum. It is one of the many derivatives of Jodocus Hondius' map of 1618. North America is depicted with a prominent Virginia and an odd, indented New England coastline, here named Norumbega. The western coastline above California makes the continent entirely too wide. There is only a hint of the Great Lakes. There is a large inland lake in equatorial South America, called Parime Lacus. Small inset of Greenland, obscuring the little-known northwestern part of North America. Strapwork title cartouche, a sea monster and Spanish galleons decorate the map. Merian's signature at lower right.

References: Burden #251.

Condition: A