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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 and Correct Map of the World from the latest Observations. From Patrick Gordon's Geography Anatomiz'd. London, 1728. 6 x 11 5/8. Engraving. Fine condition.
A charming double hemisphere world map from the early eighteenth century. Fascinating in its mistakes, including the Mountains of the Moon in Africa, the lake of El Doradoa in South America, and California depicted as an island. $525
Johann Baptist Homann. "Planiglobii Terrestris Cum Utrog Hemisheirie Caelesti Generalis Exhibitio." Nuremberg: J.B. Homann, ca. 1730. 19 x 21 1/2. Engraving. Original hand color. Some wear along centerfold and some stains in margins. Otherwise, very good condition.
While the French and then the English generally dominated the cartographic world in the eighteenth century, the Homann firm from Nuremberg, Germany was producing many influential maps and atlases during this time. The firm was founded about 1702 by Johann Baptist Homann, who was appointed Geographer to the Emperor in 1715 and who produced this world map about 1730. The topographical information is copious and gives us a graphic picture of the state of geographic knowledge of the world in the first part of the eighteenth century. Of particular interest are the many cartographic myths featured. The most obvious is that California is depicted as an island, but other myths include the large "Terra Jesso" north of Japan, Frisland near Greenland, the River Longue and Lake Apalache in North America, and the Lakes of the Mountains of the Moon in Africa. Quite accurate and current information includes good depictions of those parts of Australia and New Zealand that were then known. It is, however, for the decorative aspects that this map is most popular. The wonderful border, showing in the corners the four elements and top and bottom the two celestial hemispheres, is both elaborately detailed and visually delightful, which gives the map a strong aesthetic impact. $2,400
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. Of particular interest is the clear depiction of California shown as an island, a long-lasting cartographic myth which was fairly-well proven false by the time this map was issued. Along the bottom are vignette scenes of putti engages in the study of geography and astronomy. 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. $1,800
Emanuel Bowen. "A New and Accurate Map of the World." From John Harris' Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca. or, A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels. London, 1744. 11 1/4 x 21 1/4. Engraving. Narrow margin at left, as issued. Very good condition.
This chart of the world on an oval projection appeared in John Harris' Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels, which included many accounts of explorations that could be followed by the reader on this detailed map. Bowen was careful to shown only explored parts of the world, so the northwest part of America is blank except for the label "Parts Undiscovered." The western coast of Australia, the southern outline of Tasmania, and the western coast of New Zealand, all discovered at the time, are shown, with a shade line on the eastern part of Australia showing a projected coastline there. Bowen's map is based on the records of the circumnavigations of Magellan, Drake and Anson, whose tracks are shown. A wonderful document of the state of knowledge about the world prior to Cook's voyages. $1,250
Emanuel Bowen. "A New & Correct Chart of all the Known World." From John Harris' Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca. or, A Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels. London, 1744. 14 3/8 x 17 7/8. Engraving. Narrow margin at top, as issued. Very good condition.
Another world map from Harris' Complete Collection of Voyages and Travels, this a sea chart on the Mercator projection. Bowen adds notes throughout of land "discovered" but not fully explored. $850
Georg Moritz Lowizio after Johann Mathias Hasio. "Planiglobii Terrestris Mappa Universalis." Nuremberg: Homann Heirs, 1746. 17 3/4 x 21. Engraving. Original outline color. Minor creases. Very good condition.
An attractive world map drawn by Georg Moritz Lowizio, based on the work of Johann Mathias Hasio. It was published by the Homann Heirs firm in Nuremberg in 1746. Johann Baptist Homann (1663-1724) was one of the most important German cartographers of the eighteenth century, and his business was carried on by his son Johann Christoph (1701-1730), and then the 'Homann Heirs' from 1730 until 1813. The maps issued by all the firms had the same style, with strong engraving, hand coloring, and elaborate uncolored cartouches. This world map is a fine example of their output. Topographical information is very good, including recent details of discoveries in the eighteenth century. The two main hemispheres are surrounded by four other projections of the world, as well as two small vignettes showing the relationship of the sun to the globe. $1,600
Tobias Conrad Lotter after Guillaume Delisle. "Mappa Totius Mundi." Augsburg: T.C. Lotter, ca. 1770. 17 7/8 x 25 1/8. Engraving by Lotter. Full original hand color to map. Good margins. Very good condition.
A double hemisphere map by German cartographer Lotter, based on the great Frenchman Guillaume Delisle. Considerable information is given, including some explorer tracks in the Pacific (e.g. Tasman, Magellan, le Maire...). Interestingly, this must be one of the latest maps to show the mythical island of Frisland, which disappeared from most maps in the late seventeenth century. In the upper corners appear a northern and southern hemisphere map, the later without the great southern continent that had been so popular in earlier times. These hemispheres, colored in a traditional, strong German style, are set into an finely engraved framework, with a delightful baroque title cartouche. A good example of eighteenth-century German cartography. $2,600
Mr. Wauthier. The World & the Four Continents. London, 1797. Each ca. 13 x 15. Engravings. Original outline color. Some creases, but overall very good condition.
The World and the four continents, each presented in a "Plain Map or Emblematic Chart for the Geographical Game" and drawn "According to the Method of the Abbé Gaultier By Mr. Wauthier his Pupil." The maps are intended for some sort of educational "game," and so while the major political divisions and geographic features are indicated, there are no words other than those in the title cartouche. The outline of the continents, the rivers and lakes, and the borders and mountains, are shown with the best information available, and the lack of labels gives the maps a most interesting appearance. For the set, $425
J.B. Tardieu. "Mappe-Monde, en deux Hemisphèrea." Paris, ca. 1815. 9 3/4 x 17 1/4. Engraving by J.B. Tardeau; lettering by Giraldon. Original outline color. Some light spots. Overall, very good condition.
Jean Baptiste Tardeau (1768-1837) was one of the more prolific members of a large French family which devoted itself to cartographic productions from the early eighteenth century until the middle of the nineteenth. This map reflects the state of the world at the end of the Napoleonic Period and a French view during the influences of the Congress of Vienna. Among the European colonies those belonging to France are designated more than others. Also, true to French scientific intentions to show the true size of the world, the equal area projection is used to best illustrate the size of the continents. Many new discoveries are recorded on this map, such as Hawaii (Sandwich Islands) is shown, Australia (still called New Holland) is completely mapped, no northwest passage is suggested (due to Mackenzie and the Lewis and Clark Expedition), and the Bering Straits accurately show that North America is not connected to Asia. $425
John Dower. "A New Chart of the World on Mercator's Projection with the tracks of the most celebrated & recent navigators." London: Henry Teesdale & Co., 1842. Folding map: dissected and mounted onto linen. Two sections, each ca. 50 x 37 1/4. Engraving by John Dower. Full, original hand color. With original cover, gold stamped title and border. With some occasional spotting, but overall very good condition.
A large, excellent quality British map of the world on the Mercator projection. Issued in 1842, it contains an excellent illustration of Texas as an independent republic. Mexico (pre-Mexican War), the United States, and Texas are shown with strong contrasting colors, emphasizing Texas' independent nature. Elsewhere the map contains as up-to-date and accurate information on the world as any map of the time. This large map was issued here in a folding format for ease of carrying and use; such maps are of considerable interest and much scarcer than the usual atlas maps. $5,800
"Johnson's Map of the World on Mercator's Projection." New York: Johnson & Ward, ca. 1863. 16 3/8 x 25 1/4. LIthograph. Original hand color. Spot just under title and in Arctic Ocean; else, very good condition.
As the industry of mapmaking grew in the United States at the mid-nineteenth century, A.J. Johnson's firm was at the forefront. Their colorful atlases kept readers up-to-date not only on westward expansion in the United States, but on border changes and shifting politics around the world. Here, growing colonialism in Africa is illustrated alongside the "unexplored region," and Europe is dominated by Prussia to the north, Austria to the east, and Turkey in the south. Alaska is still noted as "Russian Territory," and nations between the Caspian Sea and the Sea of Japan are subsumed by "Independent Tartary" and the "Chinese Empire." A fascinating historical snapshot of the world in the midst of great change from one of the leaders in American mapmaking. $175
"G. Lang's Erdkarte in Merkators Projection." Leipzig: Georg Lang, 1892. Separately issued wall map; dissected into sixteen sections and mounted on linen for folding. Color cerograph. Very good condition.
A large and boldly designed map of the world by Leipzig map publisher George Lang. The focus is on political and transportation information. Each country is marked with contrasting colors, with the political spheres of the major European powers indicated by a color code in the title cartouche. Railroad lines and steam boat routes are prominently marked as are telegraph lines. Included are a number of insets of South East Asia and Africa, especially where the German colonies were located. $525
G.W. Bacon. "Bacon's New Chart of The World." London: G.W. Bacon & Co., Ltd., ca. 1905. Separately issued, folding map: dissected into 24 sections and mounted on linen. 36 1/2 x 80. Full color wax-engraving. Folding into original red cloth folder. Excellent condition.
A fabulous map that presents a detail snapshot of the world of empires at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. The world is presented on the Mercator projection with an impressive amount of detail. The focus is on both the political situation (just prior to World War I) and the world's burgeoning transportation network. This was the apex of the British Empire, which is a focus of the map. As noted, "British Possessions Coloured Red" span the entire globe, the British Isles are shown in an inset map at the bottom, and tables give information on the governments in the empire and of the principal British steamship lines. The map includes details on each country, major cities, rivers, lakes, and is crisscrossed with cable lines, rail lines, and steamship routes. Surrounding the map are small insets of major cities around the world, polar maps, a time chart, world population density chart, and several other tables listing towns, countries, and other information of note. The quality, as befitting the product of the world's great empire, is superb. This map shows the British and other empires at their peak, and provides a fascinating look at the world about to go into a period of great turmoil. $650
"Stritt's Weltkarte Politische Übersicht." Frankfurt am Main: Georg Stritt & Co., 1940. Separately issued folding map. 31 1/2 x 51 5/8. Lithograph. Wear and some tears along folds; else, very good condition. With inset population table and national flag illustrations.
Issued in the critical year between the beginning of European conflict and the United States' involvement. In 1939, the German Blitzkrieg opened on Poland; Winston Churchill came to power in Great Britain; and Japan established its influence in China. The year of publication, 1940, would see Italian invasion of British-controlled Egypt, continued Japanese aggression in the Pacific, increasing expansion of the Soviet Union (which annexed Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, at their requests), and cautious two-ocean expansion of the United States Navy. Most importantly and ominously, Japan, Germany, and Italy cemented their three-power pact, establishing the Axis powers in an alliance that would determine the course of the Second World War.
Looking eerily like any other world map, this document illustrates the significant changes that marked its year of publication. Where Poland was, the map notes only German and Russian occupied territories. Japan's influence in Asia is marked, not only in China but in the northern state of Manchukuo, a buffer between Japanese and Soviet ambitions. In the table of flags below the map, the German swastika takes its place among the banners of nations. $275
"The United States in the Modern World." Chicago: Rand, McNally & Co., ca. 1940. Separately issued folding map: dissected into 24 sections; mounted on linen. With original buckram covers. Rivets at top edge for hanging. 37 1/2 x 56. Color cerograph. Very good condition. Ex-libra.
Obviously produced as a didactic tool, this map from the Earle McKee American History Series offers a very interesting depiction of the world as presented to American students just prior to WWII. The main map depicts the nations of the world color keyed to show national control. Shipping routes by steamship and "principal airways" are clearly indicated, with very few routes shown for the latter. A number of graphic charts are included, including one showing the amount of land controlled by different nations. The British Empire is largest, followed by the Soviet Union, France, China and then the United states. A large number of other charts are given, including national wealth, international trade, loans made since WWI, and other items of considerable interest. $175
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