"Provinciae Sitae ad Fretum Magallanis Itemque Fretum Le Maire", de Laet, Joannes

This fine map is the work of Hessel Gerritsz, one of the most important Dutch cartographers of the 17th century. The map vividly depicts the important tip of South America, key to European trade with the East Indies, with the narrow and treacherous Strait of Magellan and the recently discovered Strait le Maire. The map is oriented with north on the right and it is simply embellished with a strapwork title cartouche, compass rose and banner containing three distance scales.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.LAET-1b #10.

Condition: B+

A dark impression on paper with a horn coat of arms watermark, light printer's ink residue, minor offsetting, and a professionally repaired hole adjacent to the compass rose. There are some faint creases and light toning along the edges of the sheet.