Art

A classic early Mercator and Hondius map, featuring 3 large and ornate strapwork cartouches, one of which includes a view of the entrance to the Strait. The ornate compass rose is orientated to the north at the bottom of the map. Several sailing ships and both land and sea creatures are highlighted. The Southern Land is identified as Tierra del Fuego. Rhumb lines emanate from an extremely decorative compass rose. The coast line of Tierra del Fuego quickly turns from charted lands to conjecture, trailing off to become a part of the unknown southern continent. One of the most fascinating and decorative of all regional American maps, illustrating an important period in the history of the discovery of the Americas and water routes from the Atlantic to the Pacific, predating the discovery of Cape Horn in 1616. Size: 460 x 350 mm. Copper engraving. Original colour. Very good condition; some wormholes expertly repaired, some show through.