Scarce Baroque-Style Double-Hemisphere Map Depicting the Four Seasons

"Mappe-Monde Geo-Hydrographique, ou Description Generale du Globe Terrestre et Aquatique en Deux-Plans-Hemispheres...", Valck, Gerard

This superb double-hemisphere world map is decorated with vignettes representing the four seasons. The cartography appears to be copied from Jaillot's similarly-titled world map published in 1674, although Valck has made the map more lively with the baroque vignettes. Valck used the same decorative vignettes on three of his other double-hemisphere world maps. The map displays some interesting cartographic myths such as California as an island and a large Terre de Iesso. In addition, the northwestern coast of North America is largely blank and the Great Lakes are in early formation. The mythical lakes Lac Parime and Lac Xarayes are depicted in South America. A partial outline of the great southern continent, Terre Australe et Inconnue, still appears, and there are only partial outlines of Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania.

References: Shirley #531.

Condition: B

A nice impression on a very thick sheet with contemporary color (that may have been refreshed), with light soiling in the image and moderate toning and dampstaining along the top of the sheet. A 1.75" centerfold separation at bottom has been closed on verso with archival tape, and there are a few minor remnants of paper tape along the edges of the sheet on verso. The map has been trimmed at bottom with partial loss of the neatline at left, and there is a small chip at bottom right.