Clive A. Burden LTD. Rare Maps, Antique Atlases, Books and Decorative Prints

The Mapping of North America

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This map of South America was first published in Matthias Quad’s (1557-1613) world atlas entitled ‘Geographisch Handtbuch’, in 1600. This was largely an expansion of his earlier ‘Europae Totius Orbis Terrarum’ of 1592. It was also included in Johannes Metellus’ ‘America sive Novus Orbis’, 1600 and a later Quad world atlas entitled ‘Fasciculus Geographics’ published in 1608. Meurer records the text differences in his reference work on the atlases of Cologne this map is from the first edition by Quad in 1600. Meurer also identifies Conrad Loew as a pseudonym for Matthias Quad.

It was the work of the engraver Johann Bussemacher (c.1580 – 1613) who did not draw upon Abraham Ortelius’ updated map of the American continent first published in 1587 as many state. He in fact derived the map from Frans Hogenberg’s very rare map of the continent published separately in 1589 in the same city, Cologne. This is more easily recognised by the coastline of Patagonia and the image of Ferdinand Magellan’s ship, the ‘Victoria’. Quad had in fact worked with Hogenberg on the ‘Civitates Orbis Terrarum’. This map of South America is preceded by those of Paolo Forlani c.1562, Gerard de Jode in 1578, and his son Cornelis de Jode in 1593. This is considerably more affordable than those and is one of the few separate maps of the continent of South America alone published prior to 1600. Provenance: Jonathan Potter 2005; Juan and Peggy Rada Collection. Refer Burden (1996) 72; Martinic (1999) II no. 56; Meurer (1988) Qua 6, no. 82; The A. E. Nordenskiöld Collection no. 239; Shirley (2004) T.Quad 2a; Tooley’s Dictionary (1999-2004).

QUAD, Matthias

Peruvia Id Est Novi Orbis pars Meridionalis

Cologne, 1600
210 x 280 mm., in good condition.
Stock number: 11101
$ 1,950
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