One of the Rare Antique Maps Published Exclusively by a Woman

"Americae Nova Descriptio ", Seile, Anae

This map of the Americas is based on Henry Seile's map of 1652. For unknown reasons, after Henry's death his plates passed to Philip Chetwind. His widow, Anae, engaged Robert Vaughan to engrave a new plate for her own publication of Heylin's Cosmography. Therefore, this is one of the few maps published exclusively by a woman, with her own imprint. The map is very similar to the earlier map, although the nomenclature of the Delaware River, Carolina and several places on the west coast have been changed. It depicts California as an Island and features no Great Lakes. It is decorated with a title cartouche, sea monsters, and sailing ships.

References: Burden #379; McLaughlin #35; Tooley (America) p.115, #12.

Condition: B

A nice impression on watermarked paper with light soiling and scattered foxing. There are a number of short edge tears, including one that extends 0.5" into map image at top left, that have been closed on verso with archival materials. The sheet has been remargined at left with a portion of the border replaced in facsimile.