"Sicilia", Hondius/Purchas

Delightful small map of Sicily filled with topographical detail and place names. A smoking Mt. Etna is depicted at right. Embellished with title and scale cartouches. On full sheet of English text (8.0 x 11.8") and text on verso.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Samuel Purchas, an English cleric, set out to publish a compendium of voyages to foreign countries. To illustrate his work, Purchase obtained the rights to use Jodocus Hondius' copperplates from Atlas Minor. Over 60 maps were included in Purchas His Pilgrimes, most of which were from Hondius' plates, with English titles inserted above them. Purchas also had a few additional maps engraved, including those for India, China, Greenland, North America, and Nova Scotia.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.PUR-1a #24.

Condition: B

Minor show-through of text on verso and light soiling. As this example was printed off the page at left, it has been professionally remargined, with border replaced in facsimile.