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[ History | Maps | References ]
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In 1602, Sebastian Vizcaino sailed up the California coast, and Father Antonio de la Ascension wrote a journal of the voyage. Ascension claimed that California was separated from the American continent by the “mediterranean Sea of California.” It is not clear where Ascension got this notion, but this claim led to the mapping of California as an island beginning in 1622 with a small map on the title page of Antonio de Herrera’s Descripcion de las Indias Occidentales. The first folio maps to show this myth were by Abraham Goos’ in 1624 and by Henry Brigg’s in 1625. However, it wasn’t until the more important commercial Dutch publishers accepted the insularity of California that this notion achieved universal acceptance. The first of these influential insular renderings was by Jan Jansson, whose map of North America from 1636 graphically displayed this myth, and this was soon followed by all other major publishers such as Nicolas Sanson, Guillaume Blaeu, Pierre Duval, and Herman Moll.
California was depicted on maps as an island for over 100 years, even after Father Kino established its penisularity about 1705. Beginning with Delisle’s map of America in 1722, some cartographers began again to show a peninsular California, but many cartographers continued to depict it as an island. Finally in 1747, Ferdinand VII of Spain issued a royal edict declaring California as part of the mainland, and soon after that insular California finally disappeared from the map.
The rare first state of one of the most decorative and interesting maps of North and South America from the seventeenth century. It was produced by the English cartographer John Speed (1552-1629). Speed is well known for his county maps of Great Britain, but in his Prospect of the World he issued fine maps of other parts of the globe, many of which were decorated with illustrations of native costumes and principal cities of the areas shown. This map of the western hemisphere is the most famous of this type, with views of eight cities in the Americas, as well as ten depictions of natives from the various regions, including the northern, middle and southern parts of the eastern coast of North America.
These superb decorative and historical vignettes provide a perfect frame for Speed's interesting cartographic rendering of the Americas. Considerable detail is shown in South and Central America and the eastern parts of North America, including indications of the Chesapeake, Delaware and Hudson Bays. It is for its depiction of California as an island, however, that this map is particularly famous, for this is the first atlas map upon which this misconception appeared and Speed's depiction of the island was thus a major contributing factor in the longevity of this notorious myth. The final flourishes of the map are the myriad small etched ships, sea monsters and flying fish shown in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Speed's maps were issued uncolored, though most of subsequently been colored by dealers or collectors. This is a rare example of the map as issued, and it is a classic combination of best decorative and historic aspects of antique maps. $7,500
John Speed. "America..." London: Thomas Bassett & Richard Chiswell, 1676. 15 1/2 x 20 1/5. Engraving by Abraham Goos. Hand coloring. Very good condition.
A nicely colored version of Speed's map of the Americas, issued in the 1676 edition of his atlas. $8,500
Jan Jansson. "America Septentrionalis." Amsterdam: J. Jansson, [1636]. First state. 18 3/8 x 21 7/8. Engraving. Hand color. Soft creases near centerfold. Else, very good condition.
This is the rare first state of Jansson's desirable map of North America, evidenced by the lack of author ascription in the cartouche in the lower left corner. This decorative map of North America was one of the first Dutch maps to show California as an island. Jansson was the first of the major Dutch cartographers to accept the idea that California was an island, and it was the influence of this map that finally established this mistake as an accepted "truth." This map has considerable interest for much besides the history of California as an island, for it depicts many other fascinating features in the story of the mapping of North America in the seventeenth century. In the north of the continent, current information is given of the state of exploration in the Hudson Bay area. The Mississippi is shown as a network of several rivers, cut off from the northern part of the continent by a non-existent ridge of mountains running west from Virginia. The depiction of the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes is quite unusual, and was borrowed from Champlain's map of 1613. Within a just a few years of the publication of Jansson's map, Sanson-a French cartographer-would show all five Great Lakes, but Jansson shows but a single large one. It is interesting to note that in the same atlas in which this map appeared, Jansson issued a map of New England which also showed one lake, but one of quite different appearance. It may be that Jansson was trying to hedge his bet on the shape of the Great Lake, but more likely he used different sources for the two maps and didn't feel it was his responsibility to reconcile the contrasting delineations. Aesthetically Jansson's map is a gem, with two lovely cartouches, numerous illustrations of American fauna dotted across the continent, and a number of sailing ships and sea monsters in the surrounding oceans. All in all, a map worthy of any fine collection of American maps. $7,500
Vincenzo Coronelli. "Mare Del Sud, detto altrimenti Mare Pacifico." From Atlante Veneto. Venice, 1690. Engraving. 17 3/4 x 23 7/8. Some very light stains in top corners. Overall, very good condition.
Another great map by Coronelli. This map shows the Pacific ocean and the western coast of the Americas, including a nice example of the famous cartographic myth of California as an island. To the west of this is the large, vaguely drawn "Terra De Iesso," reflecting the current unknown state of the lands to the north of Japan and west of America. Coronelli shows the 1615-1617 route of Jacob Lemaire round Cape Horn and west across the Pacific. Lemaire was the first to sail south of Tierra del Fuego, proving that it was not part of the great, unknown Southern Continent. The map is particularly interesting for its early and important depiction of Australia and New Zealand. Part of Australia, including "Nuova Hollanda" in the north and "Terra D'Antonio Diemens" (Tasmania) in the south are indicated, as is part of the western coast of New Zealand. Not realizing New Zealand's insular nature, Coronelli connects this coastline with an eastern coast, "not yet well know" which runs off towards Tierra del Fuego-part of that hypothetical southern continent. One of the landmarks maps of the region by one of the great cartographers of the seventeenth century. $2,900
Michael Burgers. "A New Map of North America Shewing its Principal Divisions, Chief Cities, Townes, Rivers, Mountains &c.." Oxford: Edward Wells, 1701. State 2. 14 1/2 x 19 1/2. Engraving by M. Burgers. Outline hand color. Very good condition. Ref.: Burden, II, item 758.
An attractive map of North America from Wells' New Set of Maps both of Ancient and Present Geography. This atlas was issued by Wells for Oxford University students, which explains the clarity of the lettering and the lack of distracting, non-essential decorative features. The map was drawn and engraved by Michael Burgers (also Burg or van de Burgh), a Dutch mapmaker who came to England in 1672 and became the engraver to Oxford University. The map shows the entire continent as well as the northern part of South America and the West Indies. For the students, Wells shows the political situation clearly throughout: North America is divided into the Spanish colonies of Mexico, New Mexico, California; the French colonies of Canada and Florida; and the English colonies are shown running up the east coast from Carolina to New Found Land. Also given, for educational purposes, are notes on when the different regions and islands were discovered or conquered. It is fascinating to think that if one were a student at the turn of the eighteenth century, this map reflects all one would be thought to need to memorize about North America.
Part of that fascination is the realization that much of this 'knowledge' was incorrect, for this maps reflects many of the geographic errors and myths of the period. The most salient geographic myth of the period was the belief that California was an island and that is graphically shown on this map. Other myths shown on this map include the nonexistent lake in the southeast, a mountain range running east-to-west across the middle of the continent, a series of nonexistent straits in Greenland and Baffin Island, and a Mississippi River which flows into the Gulf of Mexico approximately halfway between the true Mississippi Delta and the Rio Grande. And while the rendering of Mexico, the West Indies, and Hudson Bay are quite accurate, the Great Lakes have an unusual shape and positioning. Overall, this is a map which is intriguing to look at both visually and intellectually. $2,600
After Thomas Cavendish. "Zee Togten door Thomas Candys na de West Indien; en van daar rondom den gantzen Aardkloot gedaan." From Naauwkeurige versameling der gedenk-waardigste zee en landreysen na Oost en West-Indien, Leiden: P. Vander Aa, 1706. 6 x 9. Engraving. Original hand color. Very good condition.
A lovely map, typical of the style of Dutch cartographer Pieter Vander Aa (1659-1733). Vander Aa started at an early age, being apprenticed to a bookseller at the age of nine, and he went on to publish many maps and views. His maps appeared at the beginning of the era of scientific cartography, but he retained in his works many of the decorative features of the golden age of Dutch cartography. This map shows the route of the circumnavigation of the world by Thomas Cavendish in 1586-87. Detail is interesting, including a depiction of California as an island, but the map shines in particular for its charming appearance and decorative title cartouche, which shows a feast being prepared on land by the crew, likely on one of the islands of the South Pacific. $450
After Herman Moll. "A Map of the World on wch. Is Delineated the Voyages of Robinson Cruso." London: 1719. Engraving. 7 x 11 7/8. Some very light off-set, but very good condition.
This small world map is an unusual and scarce piece which was printed for the second volume of the first edition of Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. The depiction of the world follows Moll's, though this map was likely not drawn by Moll himself. It follows the commonly understood depiction of the world, including a nice example of California as an island. What is of particular interest is the connection with Robinson Crusoe. A dotted line traces the fictitious voyage based on Alexander Selkirk's experiences during Dampier's voyage and "R. Crusoes I" can seen off the north coast of South America. $925
John Senex. "A New Map of the World From the Latest Observations. Revis'd by J. Senex. Most Humbly Inscribed to his Royal Highness George Prince of Wales." London: J. Senex, 1721. 16 1/2 x 21 (neatlines) plus full and generous margins. Copper engraving. Hand color. Slight crease at centerfold. Excellent condition.
A very English map from the early eighteenth century by the leading English cartographer of the period, John Senex. The double hemisphere world picture shows us clearly the current understanding of the world, from the erroneous California as an island to the mysterious interior of Asia. Of special interest is Senex's light outline depiction of previous mappings of parts of Asia and South America, indicating how much he had improved on these. In the four corners are different polar projections of the world, adding to the geographic interest of the map. At the top is a wonderful baroque title cartouche filled with decorative features. Prominent are personified symbols of the four continents, including Europe (most likely of English extract) measuring the world as her domain. Decorative and historically interesting, a fine world map. $2,650
John Senex. “A New and Correct Map of the World from the latest Observations.”
From Patrick Gordon’s Geography Anatomiz’d. London: J. & J. Knapton et al., 1728. 6 x 11 5/8. Engraving. Full margins. Very good condition.
A small double hemisphere map by the English cartographer John Senex. Issued in one of the many popular geographies of the early eighteenth century, this map gives us an excellent picture of how the general reading public in England saw their world. Included is a graphic example of California as an island. $525
Johann Baptist Homann after Johann Gabriel Dopplemayr. "Basis Geographiae Recentioris Astronomica." Nuremberg: J.B. Homann, ca. 1730. Engraving. 19 x 22 1/2. Original hand color. Very good condition.
An attractive world maps drawn by Johann Gabriel Doppelmayr. Doppelmayr was a professor of mathematics in Nuremberg and he wrote on geography, astronomy, cartography, and other mathematical subjects. He was also a globe maker and was concerned with bringing scientific ideas to the growing educated public during the Enlightenment. Towards that end he collaborated with Nuremberg cartographer Johann Baptist Homann in producing a number of excellent celestial charts and diagrams. In 1702 Homann, who was appointed Geographer to the Emperor in 1715, founded a map and globe making business, which upon his death in 1724 passed on to his son, Johann Christoph Homann and then to his heirs, who traded under the name of Homann Heirs from 1730 into the nineteenth century. This firm came to dominate German cartography and the beautiful production of this world map graphically demonstrates the appeal of the firm's output. This map shows the world based on the latest astronomical observations by Dopplemayr. The focus is on the outline of the principal landmasses, including the then known parts of Australia. The basis of Dopplemayr's rendering was the longitudinal and latitudinal measurements of major cities around the world, and these are listed in tables at top and bottom. It is interesting that this map which was so focused on an accurate portrayal of the continents would be one of the last maps to included the myth of California as an island. Along the bottom are vignette scenes of putti engages in the study of geography and astronomy. $1,800
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