The ideas spread about New Spain and, eventually, most likely via Dutch mariners and perhaps thanks to stolen charts, to the rest of Europe.īy the 1620s, many mapmakers chose to depict the peninsula as an island. The friar, Fray Antonio de la Ascension, also wrote a Relacion breve of his geographic ideas around 1620. A Carmelite friar who accompanied him later described the land as an island, a description first published in Juan Torquemada’s Monarquia Indiana (1613) with the island details curtailed somewhat. The creation of California as an island was most likely the result of a reading of the travel account of Sebastian Vizcaino, who had been sent north up the shore of California in 1602. Indeed, from its first portrayal on a printed map by Diego Gutiérrez, in 1562, California was shown as part of North America by mapmakers. The inclusion of California as an island here is noteworthy as it breaks from the earlier tradition of Gerardus Mercator and Abraham Ortelius, who correctly depicted Baja California as a peninsula after explorers’ accounts in the mid- to late-sixteenth century disproved early-sixteenth century claims of a sea separating California from the rest of the North American continent. In addition to the numerous beautiful illustrations and map details, several geographic features included on this map are notable, including California as an island, the riverine networks and lakes of North America, and the coastline of Australia.Ĭalifornia is shown here as an island, reflecting a widespread belief among Europeans from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. These portraits are not only eye-catching and historically relevant, but also serve to establish Dutch cartography (exemplified by Hondius and Mercator) alongside the Roman cartographic tradition. The map also includes portraits of Gerardus Mercator, Claudius Ptolemy, and Julius Caesar. The mapmaker Henricus Hondius was the son of famed cartographer Joducus Hondius, whose portrait appears at bottom left. Bordered by mythical scenes and fantastic beasts, the world map itself includes charming illustrations of sailing vessels and fish, adding further visual interest to an already engaging tableau. The embellished cartouches and whimsical illustrations make this map an excellent example of baroque-style Dutch cartography. The Hondius examples, however, remain some of the most detailed and decorative. As a result of its popularity, the map served as a base for other cartographers. Four states of this map have been noted between 16. The cartouche at bottom right includes the date 1630, marking this as the first state of the map. It includes unique geographic features and lush detail throughout. Nice old color example of the first state of Henricus Hondius' decorative world map, first issued in the 1630 edition of the Mercator-Hondius Atlas. African Islands, including Madagascar (67)įirst State - One of the Most Famous and Ornately Detailed World Maps of the Seventeenth Century. "For accuracy according to the knowledge of their time, magnificence of presentation and richness of decoration, the Dutch maps of the 17th century have never been surpassed" (Tooley, Maps and Map-Makers p. Cartographically, the map is largely based on Joan Blaeu's 1648 grand wall map of the world. "It can be regarded as the master forerunner of a number of highly decorative Dutch world maps produced throughout the remainder of the century" (Shirley). Visscher's magnificent Orbis Terrarum Nova et Accuratissima Tabula is one of the most decorative world maps. (Minor splitting at top and bottom of fold, very slight darkening.) Matted, framed and glazed. Surmounted by north and south polar projections with contemporary fully colored border decoration of mythological scenes, drawn by the Dutch painter Nicolaes Berchem and depicting Zeus and Neptune in chariots, the rape of Persephone and Demeter receiving the fruits of the earth. Amsterdam: 1658.Įngraved double-hemisphere map of the world, outline colored by a contemporary hand, image 470 x 554 mm (522 x 626 mm sheet). Orbis Terrarum Nova et Accuratissima Tabula.
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