"Versuch von Einer Kurzgefassten Karte Welche die Bekannten Theile der Erdkugel Enthaelt...", Bellin, Jacques Nicolas

This is an uncommon German version of Bellin's popular world map (Essay d'une Carte Reduite Contenant les Parties Connues du Globe Terrestre …), which was published at the same time as the French version. It is presented on Mercator's projection with two fine compass roses orienting the chart. North America is shown with a very pronounced River of the West connecting through a series of rivers and lakes from Lake Superior to the Pacific - representing the elusive Northwest Passage. A portion of the Asian coastline is depicted a short distance from the supposed western coast. The Russian discoveries in the North Pacific are not yet shown, although there is a note about the voyages of 1743. Abel Tasman's new discoveries in New Zealand and Australia are shown. Australia is labeled Neu Holland with Neu Guinee linked to the mainland by the Carpentier coastline. Diemens Land, also labeled I. Tasmand, is connected to the mainland by conjectural dotted lines. In the North Pacific, Terre de la Compagnie appears east of Terra de Jesso (Hokkaido), with an erroneous note indicating that Terre de la Compagnie was discovered by Don Juan de Gama rather than by Maarten Gerritsz de Vries, who had named the coastline during his 1643 voyage. Printed on two joined sheets, as issued.

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Condition: B+

A sharp impression on bright sheets with "Brunue Limosin Fin" watermarks, issued folding and now flattened. There is minor toning and soiling at far right, and damp stains along the top edge of the sheet. Archival repairs have been made to some short fold separations mostly confined to the blank margins, as well as to a chip at top left with a minor amount of the neatline replaced in facsimile.