Catalog Archive
Auction 157, Lot 360

"Descripcion del Destricto del Audiencia de la Nueva Galicia", Herrera y Tordesillas, Antonio de

Subject: Western Mexico

Period: 1622 (circa)

Publication: Description des Indes Occidentales

Color: Hand Color

Size:
11.6 x 8.5 inches
29.5 x 21.6 cm
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This simple outline map of Nueva Galicia is based on Juan López de Velasco’s manuscript and covers the western part of present-day Mexico. Some of the early Spanish settlements are named including Guadalajara, San Miguel, Xeres, Compostela, Durango, and S. Martin. Locates a large Lake Chapala and pto. de la Navidad, near today's Barre de Navidad and just south of Puerto Vallarta. The map extends north along the coast to name the R. de Na. Senora and shows the island Guayaual, most likely a reference to the land bar creating the Laguna del Caimanero south of Mazatlan.

Antonio de Herrera Y Tordesillas was the official historian of Spain and the Indies. He compiled a history of the Spanish conquests and early explorations in the Americas, complete with several engraved maps of the region. His work (Historia general de los hechos de los Castellanos) was originally published in 1601 with several editions and translations thereafter. This map appears to be from the 1723 edition by Torquemada or the 1726 derivative by Rodriquez.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.HERR-2a #4.

Condition: B+

A nice impression on watermarked paper with light toning and creasing along the centerfold. There are two small worm tracks that have been professionally infilled with a minute amount of image replaced in facsimile.

Estimate: $275 - $350

Sold for: $200

Closed on 5/4/2016

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