This is one of the most attractive double-hemispherical world maps of the late seventeenth century. The corners are filled with images of the seasons, the zodiac, and the elements, all combined within four well-composed vignettes. At top left is a personification of Spring, who also represents Virgo, with the element of Air billowing her robes. The bull of Taurus and the ram of Aries are shown to the right. The top right vignette represents Summer, with the shore in the background illustrating the element Water. A putti holds a crab representing Cancer, and another holds the lion of Leo. The twins of Gemini flank the inset of the North Pole at top. The lower left scene presents Autumn and Earth with a wine-imbibing Bacchus and a scene of drunkenness. The signs for Scorpio and Libra are held by two followers, while Sagittarius gallops in the background. Winter holds court in the final vignette, with the element of Fire shown to the left. Aquarius is represented by a child pouring water into a basin. A group of raucous children in the background hold a goat representing Capricorn and a fishing pole with the double fish of Pisces.

De Wit first published this world map circa 1670, however circa 1680 a new plate was engraved with identical embellishments but numerous changes within the western hemisphere. This second plate now depicts five Great Lakes with Lakes Superior and Michigan open-ended in the west, rather than one large semi-circle with an open western end. The island of California has been updated from the Briggs model with a flat northern coast to an indented northern coast, and the northwestern coast of North America has been left blank, eliminating Anian from the first plate. A number of changes have been made in Canada, which are also visible within the North Polar inset, and place names have been added in North America, including Montreal, Powhatan and N. Amsterdam (New York City). Other items of interest, which remain the same as in the first plate, are the mythical L. Parime astride the equator in South America, with the imaginary golden city of Manoa on its shores. The inset of the South Pole is nearly blank save for the very tip of South America and Tierra del Fuego. Asia still displays a Japan with an oversized Iedso (Hokkaido) shown on the map of the Western Hemisphere. No changes have been made to Australia, Tasmania or New Zealand, which all have only partial coastlines. This second plate continues to show Nova Guinea and Quiri Regio in the western hemisphere, which had been added in the second state of the first plate. This is the second state of the second plate, with the addition of De Wit's privilege below the title.

References: Shirley #499.

Condition: A

Lovely original color with a couple of very minor spots and an archivally repaired centerfold separation that enters 1.5" into map at bottom. Minor soil confined to the blank margins.