First State of Schagen's Rare Map of the Americas with California as an Island

"Novissima et Accuratissima Totius Americae Descriptio per Gerardum A. Schagen", Schagen, Gerrit Lucaszoon van

Montanus' work was perhaps the greatest illustrated book on the New World produced in the seventeenth century. It contained over one hundred beautifully engraved plates, views, and maps of North and South America. The plates vividly depict forts, festivals, occupations, Dutch fleets, battles, religious rites, and customs of the native inhabitants. This important work was translated into German by Olivier Dapper, and into English by John Ogilby. Several of the plates were later acquired by Pierre Vander Aa.

This uncommon map of the Americas is based largely on Visscher's map of 1658. California is shown as a large island with a flat northern coastline. The mainland coastline continues northeast toward the Straet Anian, which separates it from Anian. In the Southwest, the Rio del Norto flows from a large interior lake, and empties into the sea between the mainland and California. One of its most recognizable features is the huge open-ended lake in the vicinity of the Great Lakes. In South America, Parime Lacus is prominent. The map is decorated with numerous vignettes of wildlife and sailing ships and the large title cartouche features Native Americans trading with Europeans. This is the first state without the large vignette in the North Pacific, published in Arnoldus Montanus' description of America.

References: Burden #418; McLaughlin #52; Tooley (Amer) p. 121, #34.

Condition: A

A fine, dark impression with minor printer's ink residue. Issued folding with professional repairs to a few tiny holes at fold intersections. An excellent example.