Catalog Archive
Auction 156, Lot 19

"Mappe-Monde Dresse sur les Observations de Mrs. de l'Academie Royale des Sciences et Quelques Autres et sur les Memoires les Plus Recens", Sanson/Mortier

Subject: World

Period: 1705 (circa)

Publication: Atlas Nouveau

Color: Hand Color

Size:
25.5 x 19.8 inches
64.8 x 50.3 cm
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This handsome double hemisphere map is attributed to Sanson, and portrays several cartographic inaccuracies. A partial coastline of the great Southern Continent still appears, and Australia is nearly connected to New Guinea. In addition, Terre de la Compagnie still appears to the northeast of Japan. In the western hemisphere, Greenland is shown attached to Canada, and South America slants too far to the west. California is correctly depicted as a peninsula, however there is a faint coastline to the west with the notation that the land was discovered by Jean de Gama on his voyage from China to New Spain. The tracks of major explorers and their discoveries are charted throughout the oceans.

The elegantly engraved title cartouche features female representations of the continents balanced by a ribbon-style banner. Mortier's imprint appears in a decorative cartouche at bottom featuring sea monsters and mer-men, with a lovely seascape and sailing ships behind them. In addition, four polar projections have been added to the previously blank corners of the sheet, with partial outlines of Antarctica shown in the southern projections at left. A very lovely and rare map that features a wealth of cartographic information.

References: Shirley #581.

Condition: B+

An excellent impression on watermarked paper with original outline color in the hemispheres and later coloring in the decorative elements. Professionally remargined at right and left. Light soiling.

Estimate: $1,600 - $1,900

Unsold

Closed on 2/17/2016

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