Catalog Archive
Auction 133, Lot 304

"Culiacanae, Americae Regionis Descriptio [on sheet with] Hispanoliae, Cubae, Aliarumque Insularum Circumiacientium, Delineato", Ortelius, Abraham

Subject: Caribbean & Mexico

Period: 1579-84 (circa)

Publication: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
19.4 x 13.8 inches
49.3 x 35.1 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

Two great early maps of important regions in the New World are combined into this interesting composition. The first covers the region of western Mexico around Culiacan and the Spanish settlement of Villa S. Michael's, the region noted for its silver mines. The second is the first detailed map of the Antilles with detail in southern Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean that is quite remarkable for the period. Ortelius based the maps on a variety of sources including Mercator’s world map (1569) and other maps by Gutters and Alone De Santa Cruz. This is the first state that includes an interesting error; the Tropic of Capricorn is shown where the Tropic of Cancer should be. Three strapwork cartouches and sailing ships decorate the map. Latin text on verso with page number 7 indicating this is from the 1579 or 1584 edition.

References: Van den Broecke #14.

Condition: B+

Dark early impression. This is a stunning example that has been professionally remargined at sides with expert facsimile to neatline and some of the numbers in borders.

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,200

Sold for: $650

Closed on 9/1/2010

Archived