Catalog Archive
Auction 120, Lot 790

"[North Pacific Ocean] Fol. I.D. Fig. I.", Scherer, Heinrich

Subject: North Pacific Ocean

Period: 1703 (circa)

Publication: Geographia Politica…

Color: Black & White

Size:
13.5 x 9 inches
34.3 x 22.9 cm
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This bizarre and unusual map shows a mirror image of the North Pacific with the coastlines of America and Asia reversed, as if viewed from the center of the earth. The island of California is depicted with a heavily indented coastline. Japan has a curious shape with Honshu joined to a bulbous shaped Hokkaido by a narrow isthmus. The seas are filled with strange creatures and exquisitely engraved galleons, and the land is teeming with exotic animals. Native figures (each holding an exotic bird) support a distance measure that stretches between the continents. Inset with a large map of the Eastern hemisphere centered on Asia, also in mirror image.

References: McLaughlin #159.

Condition: A

Nice, sharp impression printed on strong paper with folds as issued. There are a couple of light stains in the blank, right margin, well away from map.

Estimate: $750 - $900

Sold for: $900

Closed on 7/18/2007

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