A. Carte de l'Amerique Meridionale, pour l Histoire Generale des Voyages in 8o, by Jacques Nicolas Bellin, from La Harpe's Histoire Generale des Voyages, circa 1780 (12.9 x 17.3"). This version of Bellin's fine map of South America is larger than the more common version prepared for Prevost's history of voyages. The map provides nice detail of rivers, lakes, mountain ranges, and settlements, with a large section of the interior of Brazil left mostly blank. A small remnant of the mythical L. Parima still appears adjacent to Guiana. The chart includes an ornamental title cartouche that incorporates overflowing cornucopias into the design to represent the wealth of the continent. Condition: A nice impression, issued folding on a sheet with a large bunch of grapes watermark. There are scattered small stains and spots of foxing, light toning along the edges of the sheet, and several short separations along the folds have been archivally repaired on verso.

B. South America, by Anonymous, circa 1762 (9.1 x 7.1"). This small and attractive map of South America also includes Central America and the Caribbean, as well as the Solomon Islands in the Pacific and Cape Verde islands off the coast of Africa. The central area of South America shows nice detail of the known extent of the Amazon River and La Plata river systems. The map is decorated with a delicate cartouche of European explorers. In addition to longitude west from London, the map also includes Hours West from London. This map was copied from Thomas Jeffery's map that was published in London Magazine. Condition: A crisp impression, issued folding on a sheet with moderate but uneven toning. There is light offsetting and a small chip in the bottom margin.

References:

Condition: B

See description above.