America Novita Delineator

Engraved map, 35.6 x 28 cm (11" x 14"), uncolored. Faint soiling, repair of centerfold with archival tape; near fine with crisp impression. Mathhaus Merian (1593-1650) was a well known engraver that would run a publishing house in Frankfurt. This very attractive map of the Americas is based on maps by Blaeu and Hondius (see Tooley & Goss). Part of the charm of this map is the somewhat primitive arrangement of the subject. North America is shown with a prominent Virginia, but with an odd New England coastline. Florida is basically a stub, and the western coastline above California makes the continent look too wide. The Great Lakes have little presence, but the map does feature a large island lake in equatorial South America. The map also includes an inset of Greenland, and you can actually see part of Europe. A rather plan title cartouche, a sea monster and Spanish Galleons decorate the map. Merian's engraved signature can be seen in the lower right. Tooley: The Mapping of America (p.299). Goss: The Mapping of North America (64-67).