London: John Ogilby, 1673. Map. Uncolored Copper plate engraving. Image measures 11.5" x 14". This beautiful 1673 map of the Amazon River and its surrounding areas was issued by John Ogilby. The map includes the regions of Guyana and notes the legendary Lake Parima (Parime Lacus) and the fabled kingdom of El Dorado or the city of Manoa along its banks. Following Sir Walter Raleigh's 1595 publication of "The Discoverie of the Large, Rich, and Bewtiful Empyre of Guiana", in..... More

Abraham Ortelius, 1612. Map. Engraving with hand coloring. Image measures 14" x 19.25". This stunning 1612 map by Abraham Ortelius depicts the Western Hemisphere. At the time it was issued, the coastal areas of the New World had been fairly well explored, and Europeans were just beginning settlement and colonization. It is notable for depicting Spanish and Portuguese colonies in high detail, for these powers were notoriously protective of their geographical surveys. This is the first state of the third..... More

Antwerp: Ortelius, Abraham, 1601. Map. Engraving with hand coloring. Image measures 15.5" x 20.25". Lovely map of the Namur region of Belgium. Includes a compass rose and a cartouche incorporating the Belgian coat of arms. From the 1601 Latin edition of Ortelius' "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum", the first modern Atlas. Margins have been cropped, some chipping and tears along margins. Stain to top center margin, and also to lower left and right of image. More

Antwerp: Ortelius, Abraham, 1570. Map. Uncolored engraving. Image measures 14 3/8" x 19.75". Beautiful map of southern Italy. Latin text on verso. Published in "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum". Minor scattered staining, particularly in margins. Full original margins. More

1640. Map. Uncolored engraving. Image measures 11.25" x 14". 1640. This imaginative world map by Franz Ritter, often referred to as the "Sundial Map," constitutes one of the most creative--if not bizarre--map projections proposed in the early 17th century. At a time when cartographers throughout Europe were devising new ways to depict the world on paper, Ritter, a German astronomer, first came up with this idea in 1610. This map is the second state, printed in 1640. It is projected..... More

London: George Sandys. Miniature map. Colored engraving. Sheet measures 10.25" x 6.75". This lovely map (circa 1615) depicts the Grand Harbor of Malta. The map shows a birds-eye view of the harbor with the City of Valetta and its vicinity during the Siege of Malta in 1565. Fortifications are noted throughout, including Fort Saint Angelo, Fort Saint Michael and Fort Saint Elmo. Ships can be seen in the harbor. Known as one of the bloodiest battles ever fought, the Great..... More

Paris: 1663. Map. Hand-colored engraving. 15" x 23". This map of Sicily from the 17th century shows the entire island as well as the southwesternmost tip of the Italian peninsula. The names of the surrounding bodies of water are named in Latin and rivers, mountains, lakes, and towns are noted on the map. Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667) is considered the founder of the French school of cartography. In reaction to the prevailing trend of Dutch lavishness, Sanson favored minimal details, focusing..... More

Paris: 1683. Map. Copper engraving with hand coloring. Image measures 7 5/8 x 11 1/4 inches. This map, published in Paris in Afrique en plusieurs cartes, is one of Sanson's small atlas maps of depicting various African regions. This map offers extensive detail on the cities of North Africa, as well as topographical and geographical features with mountains beautifully rendered in profile. Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667) is considered the founder of the French school of cartography. In reaction to the prevailing..... More

London: J. Seller. Miniature map. Copper plate engraving with hand coloring. Image measures 4 3/4" x 5 3/4". This charming miniature map of the Kingdoms of Tesset, Darha and Segelomess covers the northwestern part of Africa includes Morocco and parts of modern day Western Sudan, Algeria and Mauritania. Depicts part of the Barbary Coast including the Canary Islands. Incredibly detailed, the map notes several important cities, towns, waterways and beautifully rendered topography. During this time, the Barbary Pirates operated in..... More

London: John Seller, 1670. Map. Engraving with early hand coloring. Image measures 4.5" x 6". Nice miniature map of England with part of Ireland, Scotland and Flanders. Includes a gazetteer table and two ships. In excellent condition. John Seller (c. 1630-1697) was an English instrument maker and cartographer and in 1671 he was appointed Hydrographer to the King. Seller instigated the first English maritime atlas, in an effort to compete with the successful Dutch maps at the time. This print..... More

London: George Humble, 1627. Map. Engraving with later hand coloring. Image measures 15.25" x 20". This fascinating 1627 map of Asia by John Speed is the first British map of Asia. The map presents the entire continent from the Mediterranean east to include Japan and the East Indies. The map presents many speculations and common conventions found at a time when parts of Asia were largely unexplored by Europeans. Korea is presented as an elongated peninsula while the Kamchatka Peninsula..... More

Amsterdam: Lootsman, 1666. Original map, circa 1660. Measures 17 1/2" x 21 5/8". Lower right margin chipped, small repairs to lower margins, abrasions along centerfold. Striking and rare chart of the eastern coast of Scotland, including Edinburgh and Aberdin, extending to the Orkney Isles in the North and to the Coquet Island in the South. Plate number 15, By Jacob Theunisz Op't Water Inde Loots-man. This map was issued by Goos in 1666 as he had bought the plates from..... More

Amsterdam: 1681. Sea chart. Copper plate engraving with original hand coloring. Image measures 19.5 x 23.25". Sheet measures 23 x 27". This wonderful sea chart speaks to 17th-century European interest in the uppermost parts of North America, and particularly Arctic Canada. The map shows the area around the entrance to Hudson Bay and the area of the supposed Northwest Passage. While the interior of most of the land depicted is little explored, the map offers substantial detail on the coasts..... More