Scarce World Map with Unusual Decorative Elements, "Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula", Sonnius, Jean

Subject: World
Period: 1645 (dated)
Publication: D'Avity's Le Monde
Color: Hand Color
Size: 15.2 x 20.7

This scarce and very handsome map was drawn from Melchior Tavernier's map of 1643. Large, bold banners showing the equivalent degrees in French and German miles frame the double hemisphere map with celestial charts filling the spandrels. In the corners are small vignettes representing the elements; an eagle for Air, an iguana for Fire, a whale for Water, and an Africa savanna scene for Earth. In North America, California is shown as an island, and the northwestern coastline is far removed from the northern part of the island. A cartouche describing recent discoveries covers the northern part of the continent. In the Eastern Hemisphere, the great unknown southern continent, Terre Australle Incognue, is very prominent with the promontory labeled Beach in the general vicinity of Australia. Japan appears as a bulbous island with the Estroit d'Anian just to the north of it. The map was engraved by Nicolas Auroux.See also lot 819 for Rodney Shirley's excellent reference work, The Mapping of the World, which discusses this map.

References: Shirley #365.
Condition: A
A dark impression on watermarked paper, originally issued folding and now flattened and backed with tissue. The margins have been professionally extended to better accommodate framing.