Uncommon First State of Allard's Map of the Western Hemisphere

"Recentissima Novi Orbis sive Americae Septentrionalis et Meridionalis Tabula", Allard, Carel

This sumptuous map of the Americas features a dramatically decorative title cartouche showing an Amazonian queen surrounded by riches, a sugar cane field and exotic animals. Inset in the cartouche is a small map of the coast of New Zealand. The cartography of North America includes the island of California on the Foxe model with two indented bays on the northern coastline, and a string of spurious islands off the tip of California. All five Great Lakes are depicted, although the two western lakes remain open-ended. Above California is a huge landmass labeled Terra Esonis that stretches nearly to Japan and Yedso. Sanson's R. del Norte flows incorrectly into the sea between the mainland and the island of California (Mare Vermio cum Mare Rubrum). The Mississippi River is not yet to be found; instead a web of rivers flows into the R. de Spiritu Santo, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. In South America the mythical Parime Lacus appears in Guyana and the major river systems are beginning to take their proper shape. The Portuguese capitanias are delineated along the coast of Brazil. There are several islands shown in the Pacific including a coastline in the vicinity of Australia labeled Quiri Regio. This is the uncommon first state, prior to the addition of a ruled border surrounding the inset of New Zealand.

References: Burden #724; McLaughlin #132; Tooley (Amer) p.127, #65.

Condition: B+

An early, crisp impression with attractive color on a clean, bright sheet. There are professional repairs to a centerfold separation that enters 3" into map at bottom, a 1.5" tear at bottom right, and numerous small chips and tears confined to the blank margins.