Catalog Archive
Auction 170, Lot 330

A Foundation Map for the American Southwest

"Nueva Hispania Tabula Nova", Ruscelli, Girolamo

Subject: Southern United States & Mexico

Period: 1561 (circa)

Publication: La Geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Alessandrino

Color: Hand Color

Size:
9.6 x 7 inches
24.4 x 17.8 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This is a foundation map in the cartography of the American Southwest, and a must for collectors of that region. It is an enlarged version of Gastaldi's map of 1548 with the only notable change being the peninsular Yucatan. The legendary seven cities of Ciuola are prominently depicted and Mexico City is shown floating in a large lake. The place names along the upper Gulf Coast reveal the explorations of Pineda, Cabeza de Vaca and Moscosso. The Mississippi makes its appearance as the Rio de Spiritu Santo and the R. Tontonteanc flows in the vicinity of the Colorado River. Considered the earliest relatively obtainable map of Mexico and the American Southwest. This is the second state of the map according to Burden. Italian text on verso.

References: Burden #31; Martin & Martin, plt. 3; Wheat (TMW) #7; Mickwitz & Miekkavaara #220-60; Shirley (BL Atlases) T.PTOL-10e.

Condition: A

A dark impression with some printer's ink residue and a few small binding holes along the centerfold that have been professionally infilled.

Estimate: $1,300 - $1,600

Sold for: $1,100

Closed on 11/14/2018

Archived