Maps/Views

ORTELIUS, ABRAHAM (1527 - 98)
"Americae sive Novi Orbis"
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 36 x 50cm ANTWERPEN 1579
FIRST YEAR OF PUBLICATION. A FINE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS MAPS OF THE NEW CONTINENT.
A print from the second plate (of three) of the America map. This was in use from 1579 to 1587 and was only published in 5 editions of "Theatrum". This second plate has still the bulge in the south-western coast of South America and is the most unusual of the three. Identical with the 1579 Latin edition according to Burden.
Ortelius's "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" from 1570 is said to be the first atlas of the world were the maps were of a standard size. His maps had an enormous influence throughout Europe and were published in several languages and editions for more than 40 years. If you have a loose map from the "Theatrum-atlas", there are reference works now available which can help you to distinguish the different editions.
Three small printers creases lower left, some fraying to the edges of the margins. A very good copy!
(Ref: Van den Broecke "Ortelius Atlas Maps" no. 10, P. Burden "The Mapping of North America" no. 52)
#503

ICONS IN THE HISTORY OF CARTOGRAPHY FIVE MAPS - THE WORLD AND THE FOUR CONTINENTS
MERCATOR, GERARD (1512 - 94)
"Orbis Terrae Compendiosa Descriptio Quam ex Magna Universali Gerardi Mercatoris...M. D. LXXXVII" + "Europa, ad magnae Europae Gerardi Mercatoris..." + "Asiae ex magna orbis terrae descriptione Gerardi Mercatoris" + "Africa. Ex magna orbis terrae descriptione Gerardi Mercatoris..." + "America sive India Nova, ad magnae Gerardi Mercatoris..."
5 contemporary handcoloured engravings, the World map 29x53cm, with the text panel c.36x53cm Partly heightened in gold. The maps are in good condition, the back strips are removed. DUISBURG in Germany (1587 - The World map only), but 1595
OUTSTANDING SET IN ORIGINAL COLOUR AND PARTLY HEIGHTENED IN GOLD. THE IMPORTANT MAPS FROM ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE ATLASES IN THE HISTORY OF CARTOGRAPHY. THE FIRST BOOK WITH MAPS WHERE THE WORD "ATLAS" WAS USED.
The posthumous publication of Gerard Mercator's "Atlas" is a tru milestone. Mercator is probably together with Ptolemy the most important name in the history of cartography. His name is still in use with the "Mercator's projection". Mercator was educated as cartographer, mathematician and globemaker and worked on his own after 1537. In 1552 he moved to Duisburg and there he started to make his most famous maps of Europe (1554), the map of the British Isles (1564) and the masterpiece in 1569, the eighteen-sheets map of the World where he introduced the new projection. His plan was to edit an extensive cosmography but the project was never fulfilled. The 1595 atlas consisted of 107 maps only (102 maps of Europe and our set of five maps of the World and the four continents) but is unquestionably still one of the most important atlases in the history of cartography.
In 1604 the copperplates of Mercator were acquired by the Dutch map maker Jodocus Hondius who brought the plates to Amsterdam and continued the business under the name of "Mercator - Hondius".

The World map in two hemispheres is surrounded by strapwork border with an armillary sphere and an elaborate compass card between the hemispheres. The map was constructed by Rumold Mercator based on Gerard Mercator's large World map of 1569 and first published in Strabo's "Geographia" 1587 and posthumously printed in the atlas of Mercator in Duisburg 1595. When printed after 1606 the text panel below the map was removed.

"Europa, ad magnae Europae Gerardi Mercatoris..."
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 38,5x47,5cm
Partly heightened in gold
DUISBURG 1595 .FIRST EDITION MAP.
The classic map of Europe with a nice and decorative title cartouche. Engraved by Mercator's son Rumold and was based on his father's large map of Europe from 1554, the most advanced of its kind.
(Ref: Nicholas Crane "Mercator - The Man who mapped the Planet" London 2002, illustrated after page 243)

"Asiae ex magna orbis terrae descriptione Gerardi Mercatoris..."
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 38x47,5cm
DUISBURG 1595. FIRST EDITION MAP.
This plate engraved by Mercator's grandson Gerard. A classic map of the region. A sailing ship draws the viewer's eye to the mouth of Straits of Anian with north-west America to one side and Asia to the other. Shown is also the solitary rock marking the magnetic pole and west of the rock is depicted what is supposed to be part of the north-east passage.
(Ref: Nicholas Crane "Mercator - The Man who mapped the Planet" London 2002, illustrated after page 243)

"Africa. Ex magna orbis terrae descriptione Gerardi Mercatoris..."
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 38x47,5cm
Partly heightened in gold
DUISBURG 1595. FIRST EDITION MAP.
One of the most influential maps of Africa published at the end of the 16th Century. Based on Gerard Mercator's eighteen sheets wall map of the World from 1569. This atlas version was engraved by the cartographer's grandson Gerard. The coastline of the continent is drawn with a high degree of accuracy compared to other maps of the period. Much of the interior of Africa is still depicted in the tradition of Ptolemy.

"America sive India Nova, ad magnae Gerardi Mercatoris..."
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 37x56,5cm
Partly heigthened in gold
DUISBURG 1595
FIRST EDITION MAP.
Map of the western hemisphere derived from Mercator's World map of 1569 with North and South America including "Terra Australis" and "Nova Guinea". There are three circular inset maps of Haiti, Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico. Still shown is the misinformed bulge of South America and the vast Antarctic continent. The copper plate was engraved by Mercator's grandson Michael.
(Ref: Nicholas Crane "Mercator - The Man who mapped the Planet" London 2002, illustrated after page 243).
(Ref: R. Shirley "The Mapping of the World" no. 157, Nicholas Crane "Mercator - The Man who mapped the Planet" London 2002, illustrated on the dust cover o the book)
#722

A RARE SET IN MAGNIFICENT ORIGINAL COLOUR
HONDIUS, JODOCUS & HENDRICK - JAN JANSSONIUS
"Novus Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica" + "Nova Europae Descriptio" + "Asia recens summa" + "Africæ nova Tabula" + "America noviter delineata"
5 contemporary handcoloured engravings, each c. 41x55cm AMSTERDAM c. 1632 - 41
ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL "CARTE-A-FIGURES" SET OF THE WORLD AND THE FOUR CONTINENTS. These maps with border panels are also individually highly uncommonly found. Biographically these maps are rather complicated. Each map has its different origin. In general they can be traced back to Jodocus Hondius (1563 - 1612) who may be said to have created the decorative borders on maps. The World map copperplate is Pieter van den Keere's from 1608, a very similar map to Blaeu's published two years earlier. Two differences are for example changes and additions referring to explorations in the Arctic with new legends and strong rhumb lines radiating from the compass cards. Janssonius updated the map after 1620 to show Le Maire's Strait. Regarding the continent maps: A few copies with four side panels were printed until c. 1631, but it was found inconvenient to fit such a large size into an atlas of general size. It was soon decided to remove the lower border. There is an interesting feature about the map of America. Sometimes around 1630 the copperplate was damaged and the upper right corner was chipped off. When printed it looks like a restoration of the map, but it is not.
Our set of maps seems to have been issued in one of the rare "Atlantis Maioris Appendix" atlases by Jansson and Hondius before all side borders were removed c. 1641, and the World map was replaced by a double hemisphere map. The Europe map has Dutch text verso, the four others are from a German text edition.
"Nova Europae Descriptio"
Jodocus & Hendrik Hondius - Jan Janssonius
From the set of 5 maps, Amsterdam 1632 - 41
"Asia recens summa"
Jodocus & Hendrik Hondius - Jan Janssonius
From the set of 5 maps, Amsterdam 1632 - 41
"Africæ nova Tabula"
Jodocus & Hendrik Hondius - Jan Janssonius
From the set of 5 maps, Amsterdam 1632 - 41
"America noviter delineata"
Jodocus & Hendrik Hondius - Jan Janssonius
From the set of 5 maps, Amsterdam 1632 - 41
The World map with some light creasing along the centrefold, the map of Europe has been re-margined on both sides affecting c. 1 cm of the engraved surface, but very skilfully restored, also a crack in the upper right corner and in one of the left costume panels. Otherwise the maps are in excellent condition.
#738

BLAEU, WILLIAM J. (1571 - 1638)
"Asia noviter delineata"
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 41x56cm. AMSTERDAM 1645 or later
THE POPULAR ASIA MAP WITH THE DECORATIVE BORDERS.
A companion piece to Blaeu's World map in the projection of Mercator, see no. 15.
The borders show "fashion plates" of various national costumes, and the frieze contains views of nine principal cities. Korea is depicted as an island and there is no hint of Australia.
A fine copy in original colour.
#730

OGILBY, JOHN (1600 - 76)
"Novissima et Accuratissima Totius Americæ Descriptio"
Handcoloured engraving, 43,5x54cm. LONDON c. 1671
The scarce America map engraved by F. Lamb who also worked for M. Pitt.
Traces of folds, 4mm margins all around.
Ref: Burden 332
#374

MOLL, HERMANN (died 1732)
"This Map of South Americæ"
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, two sheets, not joined, total c. 58x98cm LONDON (1711), but 1732 or later
An exceptionally fine copy with a brilliant original colour. The map was printed from two plates and is commonly found joined and folded vertically in Moll's atlas "Prospect of the World". Our copy however has been kept in an atlas in two separate sheets uncut. Both sheets with a weak horizontal fold as published. Lower left a large view with the vignette of the silver mines of Potosi of Bolivia.
#21

VAN DER AA, PIETER (1659 - 1733)
"L'Europe"
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 50x66cm LEIDEN c. 1713
A large and beautiful map of Europe. Published in "Le Nouveau Theatre du Monde".
A weak horizontal fold.
#15

HOMANN, JOHANN B.
"I'Asiae Recentissima Delineatio"
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 49x58cm. NÜRNBERG c. 1720
A fine example.
#375

HOMANN, JOHANNES B. (1663 - 1724)
"Totius Americae Septentrionalis et Meridionalis"
Contemporary handcoloured engraving, 48,5x57cm NÜRNBERG c. 1730
The continent map of America in a later state to which the privilege has been added.
#16

CLOUET, JEAN BAPTISTE LOUIS (born 1730)
"Carte D'Europe Divisée En ses Empires et Royaumes...1776"
Handcoloured engraving on four sheets originally joined and with extra borders.Total dimension 96x124cm. Laid down on paper. PARIS c. 1776
A MOST DECORATIVE WALL MAP OF EUROPE.
A rare map published by Luois-Joseph Mondhare. Probably intended to be the continent map of Europe as a part of a set "World and the four continents", but it is not listed by Tooley in his dictionary. The title in French and Spanish and with 20 vignettes depicting historical scenes and histories from the Bible. A map inset of Sibiria and Nowaja Zemijla and two large decorative cartouches. J.B. Clouet was a member and a Royal Geographer of the Académie des sciences of Rouen.
As usual with these large maps, there are some restorations, defective spots and restored tears, but it is in a general good condition.
#737

NOLIN, JEAN BAPTISTE (1657 - 1725) AND PUBLISHED BY CREPY
"L' Europe Dressé...1776"
Contemporary handcoloured engraving of four sheets originally joined and with the attached borders, total dimenson 124x138cm. Original condition, has never been backed on linen or paper. PARIS c. 1776
A RARE SEPARATELY PUBLISHED MAP AND ONE OF THE FINEST LARGE-SCALE EUROPE MAPS TO BE PRODUCED, PRESERVED IN A SENSATIONAL GOOD, ORIGINAL CONDITION.
This impressive map was published as a part of the set with World and the four continents. The separately printed panels around the map consisting of thirty vignettes showing important history scenes from the principal European countries and from the history of Rome, lower border has two panels of text. The seas are decorated with many ships and marine details. Within the large title cartouche a dedication to Louis XVI.
The plate was first engraved in 1700 by the painter Bocquet following the design work by Nolin and the map was issued by different publishers through the 18th Century. Our example is issued by the Parisian publisher Crepy. After c. 1708 all continent maps were redrawn in greater detail and the dedication was changed from M.de la Hyre to Abbè Bignon. This map with the complete borders must be regarded as a masterpiece work of art and is a wonderful example of the French artistic skills of the period. The decorations combine elements of the baroque and rococo. Wall maps are in general the rarest and the most desirable among all antique maps, but they most frequently suffer from serious condition problems. Our example has never been backed on support paper or linen and appears as original as almost possible including wide margins. Only a few mended, hardly visible marginal tears and some light creasing. Some strengthening of the folds on the back. Nice, old colour.
#729