"Abissinorum Regnu", Hondius/Purchas

Charming little map with a fair amount of detail on the eastern coast, reflecting colonial trading interests. Below the equator there are the two large lakes where the Nile originates. The map is decorated with a strapwork title and scale cartouche. The map originally appeared in the Mercator/Hondius Atlas Minor and was used here by Purchas with the additional title above the map, "The Voyage of Sir Francis Alvarez, a Portugall Priest, made unto the Court of Prete Ianni, the great Christian Emperour of Ethiopia," referring to the mythical kingdom of Prester John. Printed on a trimmed sheet of English text measuring 7.9 x 8.9".

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.PUR-1a #20.

Condition: A

A crisp impression with a small dampstain in the bottom right corner, away from the map image. The top third of the sheet containing additional text has been trimmed away.