"Religionis Catholicae in America Boreali Disseminatae Repraesentatio Geographica", Scherer, Heinrich

Henrich Scherer, a mathematics professor and Jesuit, produced this series of maps of North America to emphasize the extend of Catholic influence in the New World. The richly engraved map shows the ISLAND OF CALIFORNIA with an indented northern coast, interior mountains and no place names. Fretum Anian is placed to the northeast. The Mississippi River originates in present-day Canada and flows into the "Sinus Mexicanus" in present-day Texas. The Great Lakes are prominent, owing to the Jesuit sources of the map. The map is decorated with a pictorial title cartouche showing Jesus on the cross with the people of the world kneeling before him. Ships and sea monsters embellish the oceans.

References: McLaughlin #161; Tooley (America) #87; Leighly #152.

Condition: A+