"Novus Orbis sive America Meridionalis et Septentrionalis, per sua Regna, Provincias et Insulas Iuxta Observationes et Descriptiones Recentiss. Divisa et Adornata Cura et Opera", Seutter, Matthias

This striking map of the Americas features a prominent island of California based on the second Sanson model, with two indented bays in the northern coast. Directly above the island is the strait of Fretum Anian and the coastline of Terra Esonis incogn, which is obscured by an elaborate pictorial cartouche relating to the religious conversion of the natives. The Great Lakes are somewhat distorted, with large spurious bays on the west coasts of lakes Superior and Michigan. A suggestion of a Northwest Passage is hinted at through a portage between rivers inspired by the reports of Baron Lahontan. The map is filled with place names and details the tracks of the major voyages of exploration in the Pacific. An array of exotic birds flutter above the large title cartouche that depicts Native Americans fishing, cutting sugar cane, farming, and paying tribute to a chief. A secondary cartouche contains text relating the important discoveries in America and the conversion of the natives to Christianity. This is the second state with Clima labels in the side borders.

See also lot 795 for Glen McLaughlin's The Mapping of California as an Island - An Illustrated Checklist that lists this map.

References: McLaughlin #211-2; Tooley (Amer) pp. 132, #91, plt. 61.

Condition: B+

A dark impression with contemporary color in the map and later color in the cartouches, on a sheet with a spearhead watermark. There is light toning along the centerfold, light soiling mostly confined to the bottom right corner and edges of the sheet, and an archivally repaired centerfold separation at bottom.