The first state of a fine large-scale map of the continent of South America. It was engraved by John Senex with H. Hulsburgh engraving the ornate title cartouche. The map is dedicated by Senex to Edmund Halley, Professor of Geometry in Oxford and Fellow of the Royal Society. The map combines some of the latest information and traces the routes of various voyages including those of Bartholomew Sharp’s return in 1681. Also depicted are Sr. la Roche in 1675, Ferdinand Magellan in 1520 and even earlier Amerigo Vespucci in 1502. The course of Edmond Halley himself in 1700 is also displayed. The voyage in the ‘Paramore’ is famous for producing a map of the Atlantic Ocean recording the variation of compass north from true north. It was the first attempt at solving the problem of longitude. The map bears several legends.

John Senex (c.1678-1740) was geographer to Queen Anne and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He began his career as a book seller later becoming an engraver and publisher. Around 1710 he published a set of Proposals for a large folio ‘English Atlas’. At first, he was in partnership with John Price but by the time sufficient maps had been completed for the first edition in 1714, Price had left, and John Maxwell had become his partner. The large folio atlas was followed by the folio ‘New General Atlas’ of 1721. Provenance: Juan and Peggy Rada Collection. Phillips (1909-) 550; Shirley (2004) T.Sen 1b no. 6.