Catalog Archive
Auction 156, Lot 329

First Printed Map to Focus on California and the Southwest

"Granata Nova et California", Wytfliet, Cornelis

Subject: Southwestern United States & Mexico

Period: 1597 (circa)

Publication: Descriptionis Ptolemaicae Augmentum…

Color: Black & White

Size:
11.4 x 9 inches
29 x 22.9 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This is the first printed map to focus on California and the American Southwest, from the first atlas devoted entirely to maps of the Americas. Wytfliet's work was referred to as a continuation of Ptolemy, despite the fact that there was little connection with Ptolemy except for his name on the title page. Wytfliet compiled his atlas using multiple published sources, including Ramusio, Hakluyt and De Bry. The basis of this map is taken from Petrus Plancius' influential world map of 1592, including the error in naming the Tropicus Capricorni instead of the correct Tropic of Cancer. The most notable feature of the map is the location of the legendary seven cities of Cibola, Septem civitatum Patria, shown surrounding a lake, out of which flows a river that empties into the Mar Vermeio or Gulf of California. The information on the map is from Spanish sources including the narrative of Fray Marco de Niza in 1539 and the account of a rescue party led by Antonio de Espego in 1582. A very attractive map with a strapwork title cartouche and fully engraved seas.

References: Burden #106; Heckrotte #7; Wheat (TWM) #29; Wagner #188.

Condition: A

A dark impression with a couple of minor printer's creases in the map and marginal soiling. Professionally backed with Japanese tissue to repair a few chips in the blank margins, far from image.

Estimate: $2,750 - $3,500

Sold for: $2,000

Closed on 2/17/2016

Archived