"Novissima et Accuratissima Totius Americae Descriptio", Wit, Frederick de

This is a close derivative of Nicolas Visscher's influential map of the Americas. However, the island of California and the Great Lakes are shown on the Sanson model. In the Southwest, the Rio del Norto flows from a large interior lake and empties into the sea between the mainland and California. In South America, Parime Lacus is prominent and a battle scene and village appear in the Brazilian interior. The map is embellished with two large cartouches that were also copied from Visscher. The top cartouche depicts angels struggling with a devil for the soul of a Native American. The pictorial title cartouche contains scenes of gold panning, hunting and a native chief standing beneath an umbrella. The only change De Wit made was that the chief is standing on the left rather than on the right as in Visscher's composition. This is the 4th state with the decorative elements in the sea removed, but prior to the additions in the South Pacific.

References: Burden #465; cf McLaughlin #49; cf Tooley p. 120 #30; cf Wheat [TMW] #52.

Condition: B+

Original color with some faint toning. There are sold framer's tape repairs on short fold separations and remnants of linen hinges on verso.