"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 to focus 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 that are being stalked by hunters, penguins, a giant anteater and many minutely engraved natives. A spirited naval engagement rages 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, adorned with a man and a globe, and the title cartouche is replete with mermaids, putti and allegorical figures.

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Condition: A

Nice impression on paper watermarked with a jester. Professionally backed with archival tissue.