L'Hydrographie ou Description de l'Eau c'est a dire des Mers Golfes. Lacs, Destroits et Riviers prinicipales. qui sont dans la Surface du Globe Terrestre.
[Hydrography or description of water, that is to say, the seas, gulfs, lakes, straits and principal rivers which are on the surface of the terrestrial globe]
Paris [?]: Anonymous, c. 1652
Size (neatline): 27.6 x 16.3 cm / 10.9 x 6.4 in
Size (sheet): 29.6 x 22.8 cm / 11.7 x 9.0 in
Technique: Copper engraving
Colour: Uncoloured
Verso: Blank
Condition: Very good
Very rare, reduced derivative of Sanson’s namesake map of the world
Description
This double-hemisphere world map closely resembles, in a smaller version, Nicolas Sanson’s 1652 map of the same name. It shows as creator H. Picart – possibly French artist and engraver Hugues Picart. The map focuses on prominent hydrographic features of the world, such as oceans and rivers, with no towns or cities named.
Cartographic myths represented encompass:
- California as an island
- the (semi-mythical) Destr. d Anian, i.e. Strait of Anián
- a puzzling large landmass, just north of Japan (Nipho) / Honshu, almost connecting northwest North America with Asia and being named Terre de Iesso, i.e. a spelling variant of Hokkaido’s historical name of Ezo
- Lake Chimay.
Further notable features include:
- Greenland and the Arctic are attached to North America, seemingly negating the possibility of a northwest passage, despite the presence of the Strait of Anián.
- The Great Lakes appear but, due to the size of the map, less detailed than on Sanson’s map.
- Australia is shown incomplete, in rudimentary outline, and oddly shaped. It is named Beach and depicted as being separate from the southern continent labelled Terre Australe Magellanique et Incogneue.
- Despite Australia giving the impression of a seemingly independent landmass, the southern continent’s coastline appears incomplete, allowing for the two to be potentially connected.
A well-known map in a rare variant.
Publication
Note: Image shows what might be a pagination annotation (A Ω) in top right corner.
Condition
Very good.
A clear impression on an overall clean sheet with centrefold. Faint damp spots in the upper margin, well away from the image. Minor creasing in the right margin. Verso clean.
Item #: 02928
US $1,400.00