A Seminal Map of the Southeast and Early American Cartography - First Edition

"Virginiae Item et Floridae Americae Provinciarum, Nova Descriptio", Hondius, Jodocus

This stunning map was compiled from two of the most important source maps of the early colonial period: John White's Virginia and Jacques le Moyne's Florida. Hondius' map became the prototype map of the region for the first half of the 17th century and continued to influence the cartography of the region until the middle of the 18th century. Largely due to the enormous success of Hondius' Atlas, Le Moyne's erroneous depiction of a large inland lake (Lacus aquae dulcis) from which the R. de May (St. John's River) flows in a southeasterly direction was popularized. Chesapeake Bay, here called Chesepioock Sinus, and the area south towards C.S. Romano Hispanis are shown in their White delineations. The Indian villages of Paquiwok, Croatoan, and Wococon are named in the Outer Banks and several others along the Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds. The map is extensively decorated with depictions of Indian villages incorporated in the title cartouche, a Floridian king and queen and Virginian natives in a canoe taken from De Bry, wildlife including a wild turkey, ships, sea monsters and a superb compass rose. Latin text on verso, published in the first edition of Mercator's Atlas by Jodocus Hondius.

References: Burden #151; Cumming (SE) #26; Williams & Johnson #3; Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #9400:1A.

Condition: B+

A crisp, early impression with light show-through of text on verso, a printer's crease at top right, and minor soiling. Professionally backed in thin tissue to repair a few small tears along the edges of the sheet and a long tear to the left of the compass rose that extends to the name <i>Mongoack</i> and is now nearly invisible.