Catalog Archive
Auction 128, Lot 456

"Americae Pars Meridionalis", Hondius, Henricus

Subject: South America

Period: 1650 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
21.5 x 18 inches
54.6 x 45.7 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This is an important, decorative map of the South American continent. The coastlines are well detailed but the interior is filled with spurious information. Several rivers (including the Amazon and Paraguay) all have their source in the Lago de los Xarayes. The mythical Parime Lacus dominates the interior of Guyana. The map is richly embellished with ships and sea monsters in the oceans and vignettes of villages and animals on the continent. The large title cartouche features natives and indigenous animals. This example has red gauche fig-leafs applied over the warriors genitals to appease the modesty of an owner. French text on verso.

References:

Condition: B

Original color and dark impression on a sheet with narrow margins, apparently as issued. Some offsetting from text on verso and a couple color offsetting marks.

Estimate: $750 - $900

Sold for: $550

Closed on 5/20/2009

Archived