Catalog Archive
Auction 125, Lot 346

"Insulae Americanae in Oceano Septentrionali ac Regiones Adiacentes, a C. de May usque ad Lineam Aequinoctialem", Visscher, Nicolas

Subject: Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean

Period: 1682 (circa)

Publication: Atlas Minor

Color: Hand Color

Size:
22 x 18 inches
55.9 x 45.7 cm
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This handsome map of focuses on the West Indies and covers the region from the Chesapeake through the Gulf of Mexico, with Central America and the northern part of South America. Two lovely cartouches with cherubs and mermaids decorate opposite corners. Eight ships sail the seas and three native canoes are depicted off the coast of North America. A number of interesting cartographic myths appear on the map. These include two large nonexistent lakes in the region of western Georgia, and a non-existent mountain range extending from the Piedmonts right across the North American continent. In South America, the archetypal cartographic myth, Manoa o' El Dorado (the golden city), is located on the shores of the Lacus Parime vel Roponowini in Guyana. This is the second state with the addition of the privilege in the cartouche.

References: Burden #531.

Condition: B+

Lightly toned with a few darker spots and a repaired centerfold separation in the bottom quarter of the map. Paper edges are reinforced on verso.

Estimate: $1,400 - $1,900

Sold for: $1,000

Closed on 9/24/2008

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