"Americae Septentrionalis Circuitus", Morisot, Claude Barthelemy

This rare map of North America is based primarily on the work of Hondius. The map shows a peninsular California with many place names along the coast, translated from Spanish literally to Latin, resulting in such names as P. Fraudulentu for Cabo Engano, and Montes Niuguidi for the Sierra Nevadas. The bulk of place names are located on the west coast, with just a few names on the east coast, including Norumbega, Pr. Arenaru, and Croatoan. Asiae Pars appears in the North Pacific, and part of the mythical Australis Terrae is shown in the South Pacific. The portion of the map below the equator is filled with a large cartouche, obscuring South America. A pair of beautifully engraved ships and a sea monster decorate the map. The map is printed on a sheet of Latin text (8.5 x 13.8") with text on the verso. Claude Barthelemy Morisot (1592-1661) was a prominent intellectual of his period. This plate was included in only the 1643 edition of Orbis Maritimi.

References: Burden #264; Wagner #348.

Condition: B

Light toning and text show-through with a small chip in the upper right corner of the sheet, away from map image.