"Turcicum Imperium", Hondius/Purchas

This interesting small map extends west to Italy and includes part of northern Africa, but focuses on the Ottoman Empire in the Middle East and Arabia. The mountains, rivers, and cities of the region are well depicted, including Mecoa (Mecca), Eltaif, Al-Qanfaza, Aden, Sanaa, Zibith and Alaxa. The island of Bahrain (Baharem) is located in the Persian Gulf, here named Mare Elcatif. The map is adorned with strapwork title cartouche that incorporates a distance scale. English text on verso. This example is accompanied by an additional sheet of text describing the Turkish Empire.

At the beginning of the 17th century, Samuel Purchas, an English cleric, set out to publish a compendium of voyages to foreign countries. To illustrate his work, Purchase obtained the rights to use Jodocus Hondius' copperplates from Atlas Minor. Over 60 maps were included in Purchas His Pilgrimes, most of which were from Hondius' plates, with English titles inserted above them. Purchas also had a few additional maps engraved, including those for India, China, Greenland, North America, and Nova Scotia.

References: Ankary, p. 179; Shirley (BL Atlases) G.PUR-1a #29; Tibbetts #63; Van der Krogt (Vol. III) #8100:351.

Condition: A

A nice example with a hint of toning and damp stains confined to the blank margins.