Catalog Archive
Auction 124, Lot 53

"Americae sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio", Munster/Petri

Subject: Western Hemisphere

Period: 1614 (published)

Publication: Cosmographey

Color: Black & White

Size:
14.5 x 12.5 inches
36.8 x 31.8 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This handsome woodcut map is based on Abraham Ortelius' classic map of 1570, with the huge bulge in the southwest coastline of South America, the extensive western coastline of North America, and the great southern continent, here called Meridies Terra de Fuego. Because of the restrictions inherent in wood block printing, Petri's map is somewhat generalized. A village of Quivira and the Sierra Nevada are located in present-day California. Inland is the kingdom of Quivira with those of Anian and Tolm to the north and east. Above the map are two elongated ovals of gothic German text and above that, in the upper margin a German title, "Die newen Inseln so hinder Hispania Gegen Orient bey dem Landt Indie Gelegen." German text and illustration on verso, published in 1614 according to Burden.

References: Burden #67.

Condition: A

A good impression. Tissue repair on a tiny fold separation at bottom and reinforced paper corners, well away from map.

Estimate: $1,500 - $1,800

Sold for: $1,100

Closed on 5/7/2008

Archived