"Les Deux Poles Arcticque ou Septentrional, et Antarcticque ou Meridional, ou Description des Terres Arcticques et Antarcticques...", Sanson/Mariette

Subject: Polar
Period: 1657 (dated)
Publication: Cartes Generales de Toutes les Parties du Monde
Color: Hand Color
Size: 15.2 x 21.1

The extent of polar explorations is the focus of this unusual map of the north and south poles. In the Northern Hemisphere, Greenland is depicted attached to the American continent, and three large islands comprise the Canadian Arctic. It is hinted that Terre de Yezo, ou Iesso takes up the entire North Pacific region between Buttons Bay and East Asia. In the Southern Hemisphere, the tip of South America is shown with the Strait of Magellan and Le Maire Strait. The balance of the map is filled with a large landmass labeled Terre Magellanicque, Australe, et Incogneue. Engraved by Jean Somer Pruthenus. This is the first state.

References: Kershaw #144, Pastoureau, SANSON V A #97.
Condition: B
On watermarked paper with small sections of loss in unengraved areas along the lower left and right borders (measuring approximately 6" tall by 1.5" wide) that have been professionally reinstated with border drawn in facsimile. There is minor soiling and four worm tracks at bottom that have been infilled.