Catalog Archive
Auction 154, Lot 16

"A Map of All the Earth and How After the Flood It Was Divided Among the Sons of Noah", Moxon, Joseph

Subject: World

Period: 1685 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18.2 x 12.7 inches
46.2 x 32.3 cm
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Joseph Moxon, a little-known English cartographer, designed this interesting world map for publication in bibles. The map illustrates how the world was divided up among the sons of Noah after the Flood. It is centered on the Old World and only the place names are concentrated there. The rest of the world is shown only with continental outlines, rivers and lakes. The island of California appears across the expansive Pacific Ocean where there are partial outlines for Australia and New Zealand. A series of vignettes surround the map illustrating the Creation and the Garden of Eden at top, with scenes from the Fall of Man to the Crucifixion of Christ at bottom. Two cartouches further decorate the sheet, including a dedication to Gilbert Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury. This is Visscher's version of the first state of this very uncommon map, which was published in a Dutch Bible. Moxon's table of place names has been removed and Visscher's imprint appears between the two cartouches. It is not mentioned by Shirley.

References: cf. Shirley #457.

Condition: B

Attractive color with light soiling and a printer's crease at bottom. Issued folding, now pressed, and backed with Japanese tissue to repair separations along the original folds as well as along two extraneous folds. Two tears to the left of the title cartouche have also been professionally repaired.

Estimate: $900 - $1,100

Sold for: $650

Closed on 9/16/2015

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