Scarce Map of the South Pacific and South America

"Amerique Meridionale", Duval, Pierre

This is the bottom left sheet of a four-sheet map of the world by Duval, Carte Universelle Du Monde, with each map standing alone with its own title and borders. The title on each of the four sheets could then be trimmed to join the sheets into the full world map. This sheet depicts the southern Pacific Ocean from Tasmania and New Guinea to South America. The route of Le Maire across the Pacific is shown, along with his ship, the Eendracht. The cartography in the south Pacific is still quite rudimentary, with partial outlines of Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands. Another partial coastline depicts the Southern Continent, extending from New Zealand nearly to South America and then continuing to the east, with the notation that islands along the coast were discovered by Hernando Gallego in 1576. Two mythical lakes appear in South America: Lac Parime and Lac de Xarayes al: Eupana. A large decorative cartouche at bottom describes the Americas, explaining that the majority of the sea-faring nations in Europe have colonies in the Americas, and that the Spaniards control the majority of the New World, with the most fertile and rich land. The drape-style title cartouche is held aloft by a Native American and a European colonist, with an adjacent legend. This is the second state, with the date added to the title.

References: cf. Shirley #489; Pastoureau, DUVAL II F [61].

Condition: B+

A dark impression on watermarked paper with attractive color. There are light damp stains that enter the top of the map image and a professionally repaired tear that enters 1" into the title cartouche at top.