Catalog Archive
Auction 188, Lot 20

Gorgeous Double Hemisphere World Map

"A New Map of the World in Two Hemispheres with the New Discoveries & Tracts of the Two Circum Navigators...", Sayer, Robert

Subject: World

Period: 1760 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
37.9 x 21.6 inches
96.3 x 54.9 cm
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This elaborate, large-scale double hemisphere map of the world was likely issued around 1760 as it lacks many of the later 18th century discoveries on the northwest coast of North America. A partial western coastline of present-day Alaska is depicted with the note "land seen by Capt. Spanberg 1728." Further to the south there are several references to discoveries including Juan de Fuca in 1598, Martin de Aguilar in 1603, and Aleksei Chirikov in 1741. A large River of the West appears from Lake Winnipeg to the Pacific Ocean, but the western interior is otherwise blank. In the South Pacific, there are only partial coastlines for New Zealand and Australia, which is also shown connected to a partial New Guinea. In South America, the large fictitious lakes of Parime and Xarayes are prominently depicted. In the oceans, the routes of Dampier and Anson are shown along with the trade winds. A fascinating note near the South Pole states "The Inhabitants if any there be who dwell within this Circle have continual Night when the Sun is in the Tropick of Cancer..." Along the corners of the sheet are two small polar projections and two celestial charts. The sheet is completed by explanatory notes, statistics, and decorated by rococo-style title cartouche. The map carries the imprint of Robert Sayer at the Golden Buck in Fleet Street. Printed on two joined sheets.

References:

Condition: B+

Issued folding with several fold separations and an adjacent small tear that have all been repaired on verso with archival materials. There is faint scattered foxing, light toning along the joint, and mat burn in the blank margins.

Estimate: $2,400 - $3,000

Sold for: $1,800

Closed on 6/22/2022

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