"Guineae Nova Descriptio", Mercator/Hondius

This beautifully engraved map of western Africa from Senegal, Rio Senega, to Cape Lopez on the Gulf of Guinea just below the equator. The map reflects the Portuguese exploration and settlement in the region and includes a large inset of the Island of St. Thomas. This is one of six new maps of Africa to be included in Hondius' editions of Mercator's Atlas. It is beautifully embellished in Hondius' style with strapwork title cartouches, a Portuguese ship and native sailing boat, and fully engraved seas in a moiré style. French text on verso.

References: Norwich #316; Van der Krogt (Vol. I) #8700:1A.

Condition: B

Full original color with moderate toning, light foxing, and a professionally repaired tear confined to top blank margin.