"A New Mapp of America Meridionale Designed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King...", Blome, Richard

This scarce map is from the first atlas to be wholly engraved, printed and published in England. The interior of the continent is filled with spurious geography, including the mythical lakes of Parime and Xarayes, as well as charming depictions of "native" animals, such as lions and a camel. The seas are teeming with ships and sea monsters. This map is after Nicolas Sanson, who is credited in the decorative strapwork title cartouche. The 25 maps in the atlas were engraved by Francis Lamb, Thomas Burnford and Wenceslas Hollar. The map is embellished with an elaborate heraldic cartouche and a dedication cartouche, which has been updated in this edition to James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. The heraldic banner below the dedication has been removed, with the erasures still visible. Blome's Geographical Description was first published in 1670.

Richard Blome was one of the most interesting, and most active, publishers of illustrated books in post-Restoration London. There is an excellent biography on MapForum.com.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) T.BLOM-1a #25.

Condition: B

A nice impression on paper with the Strasbourg bend and lily watermark, issued folding and now flattened. There is minor toning, a few small worm holes, several stains at bottom, and a small hole in the "Magellanick Sea" that has been archivally repaired. A previous pastedown over the dedication cartouche at left has been mostly removed, leaving two small remnants of paper and an abrasion in an unengraved area. The narrow side margins have been extended a bit to accommodate framing.