"Nova Mexico", Duval/Beer

The island of California is the main focus of this charming miniature map. The map is filled with place names including the mysterious seven cities of Cibola. The Rio Nort (Rio Grande) originates from a large Lac de Conibas and incorrectly flows into the Mare Vermeio. The map is based on Sanson's Audience de Guadalajara (1657) with the addition of the Fretum Anian above the island and several unnamed, north-south, mountain ranges.

Pierre Duval was Nicolas Sanson's nephew and pupil. He published a wide range of atlases and individual maps including a fine miniature world geography with many of the maps based on Sanson. This map is from the German edition of Duval's world geography. The maps were probably engraved by Sigismund G. Hipschman (as his signature appears on the title page and the world map) and have Latin titles rather than the original French. The maps are often attributed to Johann C. Beer, who translated the work into German.

References: Burden #504; McLaughlin #30.

Condition: A+

There is a tiny paper chip in the top margin, well away from the map.