This map of the continent spans was printed on four sheets and joined into one large wall map. There is fine detail clustered along the coastline, including place names, political divisions, rivers, and more, but much of the interior remains unexplored. Plenty of notes appear throughout the map, providing information on the land, its native inhabitants, the wildlife, and more. Above the equator, the speculative twin lakes to the north of the Montagnes de la Lune (Mountains of the Moon) are shown, with an extended note nearby explaining that they are the sources of the Nile. Surrounding islands are located, such as Madagascar, Cape Verde, and the Canary Islands. A small inset at top left focuses on the Azores. A massive decorative title cartouche completes the composition at top right, adorned with a female figure representing the continent, a river god, the pyramids, and wildlife, including an ostrich, a camel, and a lion. Engraved by Guillaume Delahaye. This is the first state.

References: Norwich #91.

Condition: B+

A nice impression with old color on lightly toned sheets with a birdhouse watermark. The four sheets were joined, and then folded. The toning is a bit more prominent along the left-hand fold and the edges of the sheet. There is very light soiling, a few spots of foxing, printer's creases at top and bottom center, and a short fold separation in the bottom margin.