Very scarce—one issue only of this very early engraving. This is earliest collectible map of the eastern seaboard and the earliest to provide a representation of the New York City area. It is also the first map listed in Palmer's "Chronological List of Maps & Charts [of Bermuda]" and is..... More
An excellent example of the second plate (see below) of this important map. It was the "first map of the Americas to appear in a modern atlas," (Schwartz) and one that “had a great influence on the future cartography of the New World” (Burden). When this map was issued, the..... More
A superb example of an early map of eastern Asia that includes all of India, most of China, Indochina, the Philippines, and the Malay Peninsula including Singapore, which is here called “Cingatola.” Characteristic of the earliest European maps of the area, the coast of China is a relatively straight, diagonal..... More
A gorgeous example, in vibrant original color, of the first full folio-size map specifically of North America and the first overall produced in the Netherlands. It was preceded only by the smaller but very rare Forlani map of 1565 and the yet much smaller derivative of it by Porcacchi, published..... More
In vibrant original color, this is a spectacular example of Ortelius' second map (though third plate) of the Americas, improving upon its predecessor in many important ways (see below), most apparently in the removal of the large bulge on the west coast of South America. This updated revision of the..... More
A brilliant example in rich original hand color of the rare (and only) English language edition of the earliest printed, folio-size western map specifically of China by Ortelius and “the first to show the Great Wall” (Nebenzahl). “This map remained the standard type for the interior of China for over..... More
One of the most visually distinctive, early maps of the Western Hemisphere. Its cartography was the work of Gerard Mercator, "the greatest name in geographical science after Ptolemy" (Tooley), but the map’s design and execution were the work of the elder’s grandson, Michael, shortly after Gerard’s death in 1594. The..... More
A mint example of a “map of great importance” (Burden). This is the first and only cartographic document reflecting an early plan for the colonization of northern New England by Sir William Alexander and the earliest printed map with the place name Cape..... More
First atlas issue, in warm contemporary color of this classic Dutch map of Bermuda. As were most 17th century maps of Bermuda, Hondius’ was based on Richard Norwood’s 1618 chart, executed on behalf of the Bermuda Company. The map thus includes the parishes and tribes allotted to the company’s principal..... More
One of the most richly decorative, early maps of Italy in vibrant color of the period. The map’s title, in Italian, is flanked by two caryatid-like women. Below the cartouche, the legendary founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus, are nursed by their adoptive wolf mother. The sea is embellished with..... More
A beautiful example of this landmark in the mapping of South Africa. It appeared in Dudley’s Arcano de Mare, “the first sea atlas in which every chart was based on Mercator’s projection, the first to show prevailing winds and currents in the main harbours and anchorages, the first to give..... More
First state of Robert Dudley’s rare, beautiful chart of the eastern coast of Greenland. It was published in Dudley’s Arcano de Mare, one of the most strikingly beautiful works of maritime cartography ever produced and the first sea atlas by an Englishman. “It was the first sea atlas in which..... More
An exquisitely engraved rarity, the earliest printed chart of the Northeast that was published in the first sea atlas produced by an Englishman (though published in Florence), the Arcano del Mare (Secrets of the Sea). One of the jewels of early cartography, the atlas’s elegant Florentine engraving formed a link..... More
Very rare separately published first edition of this 1665 ichnographic plan of Rome, in full contemporary handcolor, designed by the Ghent architect, draftsman, and etcher Lievin Cruyl (1634-c. 1720). Famous for his remarkably executed vedute of Rome, drawn with the aide of optical instruments to spectacular effect, and the present..... More
A very attractive, near-mint example. Speed's handsomely engraved work is one of the earliest English maps of the area and one of the first to demarcate the borders of colonial Virginia and Maryland. Just three years before the publication of Speed’s map, Augustine Herrman had conducted the first thorough surveys..... More
Rare. A resplendent map in a bright, richly colored example. One of the most elaborate works of early mapmaking, it contains 38 insets of the major ports and cities of the Mediterranean. It was the centerpiece of the monumental atlas, the Neptune François: “the most expensive sea-atlas ever published in..... More
A superb example of this striking, large-scale chart of the Chesapeake Bay, the lower waterways of Virginia, and Delaware Bay. It was one of the first charts to fully utilize the pivotal Augustine Hermann map of 1673, even using Hermann’s symbols for the plantations along the Bay and various rivers. ..... More
This was the best, generally available map of its day of Southeast Asia. Dashed lines show the routes of trading vessels throughout the area, including the route that passed through present day Singapore. The much contended Spice Islands are shown in good detail as is the Philippines. The northern coast..... More
A remarkably detailed and beautiful plan of Florence and its immediate surroundings, including Fiesole. No fewer than 228 structures are listed and keyed to the plan. In a refreshing departure from the usual subjects that ordinarily flank early maps, this work offers several scenes of cultural events, most being athletic..... More
A most unusual, beautiful, and rare world map-- the only one we have seen on the market that was conceived according to Buddhist cosmology. “It became the prototype of other Buddhist world maps” (Cortazzi). Accordingly, China and India are positioned at the center of the earth, and along with Japan..... More
Superb original-color example of the Renard edition of one of the most beautiful 17th-century charts of the area. Schilder described the maps of the De Wit firm as being "distinguished by their excellent craftsmanship, exactness and beauty." Romeyn de Hooghe’s intricately etched cartouche shows a European trader accompanied by a...... More
A striking city plan of Rome by the Augsburg cartographer/publisher Matthäus Seutter (1678-1757), here in a vibrant original hand-color example. The map is based on Giovanni Battista Falda’s (1643-78) important 1667 two-sheet plan of Rome, known as his pianta piccola, which was “an instant success” and quickly became “one of..... More
A striking city plan of Naples with vibrant original color. There are also seven large vignettes; illustrated in those along the top are the primary landmarks of Naples’ great seaport – the Castel dell’ Ovo, the Molo, and the Castel Nuovo. Along the bottom, the Piazza del Mercato is pictured..... More
A super, dark-impressioned example with full, period wash coloring of an important map that impressively combined both European and Japanese sources. It was, in fact, one of the first European maps to both make use of Japanese sources and include Japanese characters. The engraving’s rich imagery mingles indigenous Japanese scenes..... More
An unusual, large-scale, 18th-century map providing a striking visual record of a remarkable number of important exploratory voyages of both the Pacific and the Arctic undertaken between the 16th and 18th centuries. Published at the dawn of the great age of transoceanic exploration, Sayer & Bennett’s 6-sheet Chart is an..... More