STRADANUS – STRAET, Jan van der (1536-1605). Americae Retectio. [Antwerp:] Phillipe Galle [c.1592]. [bound after:] STRAET, Jan van der. Nova reperta. [Antwerp:] Phillipe Galle [1600?].

STRADANUS – STRAET, Jan van der (1536-1605). Americae Retectio. [Antwerp:] Phillipe Galle [c.1592]. [bound after:] STRAET, Jan van der. Nova reperta. [Antwerp:] Phillipe Galle [1600?].

First editions, with early and ephemeral depictions of New World exploration and of 16th-century technology. America Retectio is a so-called “picture atlas,” issued in leaflet form to commemorate the first centenary of the discovery of the New World. The four engravings comprise the allegorical title-page and the successive approaches to America of Amerigo Vespucci, Christopher Columbus, and Ferdinand Magellan, each surrounded by sea-nymphs, monsters and other wonders. Nova reperta (i.e. New Inventions of Modern Times) is a similarly ephemeral production and includes engravings of Amerigo Vespucci’s first landing in America, with interesting depictions of New World fauna including a tapir and a sloth; also an observatory, a gun foundry, a printing press, a clockmaker's, a distillery, silk manufacture, an olive oil press, a sugar factory, a painter's studio, an optician's, an armory, an astrolabe demonstrated by Amerigo Vespucci, and a copperplate engraving workshop, among others. Hollstein 410-429 (calling for 20 plates in the Reperta although the BM catalogue and Sabin describe only 19 as here); Sabin 92665-92667; Tooley, “One of the Rarest Picture Atlases” in: The Map Collector, No. 2, March 1978.

Two works bound in one, oblong quarto (336 x 243mm). Retectio: 4 engraved plates by Adrian Collaert after van der Straet (repairs to upper right corner of pls. 1 and 3, not affecting image, some margins renewed, one crossing plate mark slightly, some slight marginal soiling). Reperta: engraved title and 19 numbered plates by Theodore Galle and Hans Collaert after Jan van der Straet (small marginal tears or holes to title and plates 1, 2, 8, 13 and 15 repaired; skilful repairs to tears 110 mm and smaller to pls. 11, 14 and 16, some marginal finger-soiling). Later marbled boards, red morocco gilt label on front cover (slightly rubbed).

Pre-Lot Text
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