PBA Galleries

Copper-engraved map, hand-colored. 36.2x38.7 (14¼x15¼").

The first separate, printed map of the Arctic and northern Canada. It is also contains an early appearance of the designation California, "California regio sola fama Hispanis nota" (California region, known from Spanish hearsay). Burden notes: "California is identified as Spanish territory and El steto de Anian is clearly shown." Richard Arkway, in his catalogue 34, describes the map thus: "It is one of the most intriguing early maps, combining antiquated, medieval geographical concepts with some of the most advanced cartography of its day. It displays the 14th century notion of the polar region in which the oceans of the world flowed into a polar ocean through in-drawing streams between four huge islands.... On the other hand, the map shows an awareness of recent discoveries, namely Frobisher's and Davis'. Like the progressive men of his age, Mercator was intensely interested in the northern sea passages through America to Asia and was convinced of their navigability. His ideas influenced John Dee and other prime movers of English exploration, who sought a Northwest Passage." This is the second state of the map, with changes to the island north of Russia. French text on verso. From the 1619 edition of the Mercator-Hondius atlas. Burden 88; Wagner, NW Coast 177.