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A fascinating and wonderfully decorative map of Iceland by Willem (Guilielmus) Janszoon Blaeu based on the work of Juris Carolus. The maps issued by the Blaeu firm are known for their fine craftsmanship and design, and have been called "the highest expression of Dutch cartographical art." It was based by Blaeu upon a map made by Joris Carolus, a Dutch traveler who probably drew his map in the 1620s. Carolus based his rendering on Iceland Bishop Gudbrandur Thorlaksson's map drawn originally in the late sixteenth century. Carolus updated his map and it remained the standard map of Iceland for much of the seventeenth century. Versions were issued by several publishers and this example, by Blaeu, is probably the most desirable of them all. $1,400
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.
Father Vincenzo Maria Coronelli (1650-1718) was an Italian Franciscan who was noted in his own time for producing the finest globes, including a pair of fifteen foot globes for Louis XIV in 1683. Besides his skill in globe making, Coronelli was one of the greatest mapmakers of the late seventeenth century. Appointed as Cosmographer to the Venetian Republic, and founder of the first geographical society, Coronelli was a recognized master of cartography. Coronelli spent a great deal of his time on cartographic research, and had access to privileged information from French Jesuit missionaries and from his own Franciscan order. This information allowed him to produce the fine body of work, incorporating the most up-to-date information. But besides his accurate geography, Coronelli's maps are exquisite examples of the finest engraving and map illustration of the early days of cartography. The engraving is strong and precise, and Coronelli includes a wonderful title cartouche in the upper right corner, complete with mer-putti and a cornucopia of pearls and other sea objects. More than this, however, Coronelli's maps are geographically fascinating, as is well evidenced in this excellent map.
This map shows 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
Vincenzo Coronelli. "Mare Del Nord." From Atlante Veneto. Venice, 1690. Engraving. 17 1/2 x 23 7/8. Some weak spots in paper and remnants of old stain. Overall, very good condition.
Another fine map by Coronelli (1650-1718), which shows the Atlantic Ocean and the coasts around, including western Europe and Africa, the northern part of South America, and the eastern coast of North America. Details along the coast include rivers, bays, lakes, and some political information including the early colonies of North America. Typically of Coronelli's maps, the map is as decorative as it is historic. In the upper left corner is a superb title cartouche that adds a crowning touch to this fine map. $2,200
Jacques Nicolas Bellin. "Carte de l'Ocean Occidental et Partie de l'Amérique Septentrionale." From Charlevoix's Journal D'un Voyage Fair Par Ordre Du Roi dans L'Amerique Septentrionale.. Paris: Nyon Fils, 1744. 9 5/8 x 14 3/4. Engraving. Excellent good condition.
Pierre Francois Xavier Charlevoix was a French Jesuit historian and traveler who had spent four years from 1705 teaching in Quebec. A decade later he was sent to Canada to look into the border of Arcadia, a subject of dispute between the French and English, as well as to explore for passages to the Pacific. Charlevoix ascended the St. Lawrence, then descended the Mississippi, and finally returned to France by way of Santo Domingo. The journal of his voyage was issued in 1744. It was one of the only accurate sources on the interior of North America and it included some fine maps by Jacques Nicolas Bellin. Bellin (1703-1772), Hydrographer to the King of France, was one of the best French cartographers of the period, when the French dominated the cartographic world. Using scientific principals and having access to first hand reports from the American interior, such as Charlevoix's, maps like Bellin's were the best of American from the late sixteenth century to the middle of the next. This map shows the eastern part of North America in situation across the Atlantic from Europe. Charlevoix's route is indicated and quite accurate information is included of the interior rivers, lakes and mountains in North America. $350
Emanuel Bowen. "The Gallapogos Islands Discovered and Described by Capt. Cowley in 1684." From John Harris' Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca. or, A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels. London, 1744. 12 3/8 x 7 3/4. Engraving. Very good condition.
One of the few maps of the Galapagos Islands by themselves, this map was drawn by Emanuel Bowen, Geographer to the British King. It was based upon an earlier map by Herman Moll issued in the journal of William Ambrose Cowley, who made the first charting of the islands. This map appeared in John Harris' Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels. Bowen added text below the map, which explains that the name of the islands comes from the Spanish word for tortoise, "galápogos." $550
Rigobert Bonne. "Carte des Isles Canaries, avec l'Isle de Madere, et Celle de Porto Santo." From Atlas de toutes les parties connues du Globe Terrestre. Paris, 1780. 12 5/8 x 8 1/4. Engraving by André. Very good condition.
Rigobert Bonne was the Royal Hydrographer of France and his charts were some of the best issued in the late eighteenth century. This chart shows the Canary Islands, along with two smaller islands to the north. Detail includes major coastal features, hints of interior topography, and the names of all the islands and their major settlements. A fine eighteenth century map. $100
Fielding Lucas, Jr. "Canary Ids." From A General Atlas. Baltimore: F. Lucas, Jr., 1823. 8 3/8 x 11 1/4. Folio. Engravings. Full original hand color. Full margins. Light spots, mostly in margins, else very good condition.
One example from a fine series of maps by Baltimore cartographer, Fielding Lucas, Jr. (1781-1854). Lucas appears to have become involved in the publishing and book trade while a resident of Philadelphia from 1798 to 1804, when he moved to Baltimore. In 1807 Lucas joined Conrad, Lucas & Co., and then in 1810 he set up his own business at 138 Market Street. There Lucas first became involved in cartographic publishing with his New and Elegant General Atlas of 1816. In the third decade of the nineteenth century, through his Philadelphia contacts, Lucas was one of the major contributors to Carey & Lea’s atlas of 1823. Concurrently with this involvement, Lucas brought out his own General Atlas, containing 104 maps of all parts of the world, engraved by B.T. Welch & Co. of Baltimore and Young & Delleker of Philadelphia. Lucas, during his 50 years of residence in Baltimore, established himself as a prominent citizen of that city, but it is for his important role in early American cartography that Lucas is best remembered. These maps are amongst his finest works, and they well demonstrate the quality that Lucas brought to this nascent industry. $80
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