Beschreibung:

Copper-engraved map, hand-colored, with 2 colored cartouches, colored sailing ship vignettes. 34.4x49.4 cm. (13½x19¼"). Landmark map of the Pacific and much of the Americas, described by Burden as "One of the most important maps that appeared in the Ortelius atlases, this was the first printed map to be devoted to the Pacific Ocean, the discovery of which is remembered by the depiction, with legend, of Ferdinand Magellan's ship the Victoria. It was engraved at a time of increasing activity in the Pacific with the English having recently begun raiding the Spanish galleons carrying the gold of Peru up the coast to the Isthmus, as well as those making the arduous journey across from the Philippines to Mexico. Ortelius worked closely with Frans Hogenberg and the Pacific cartography is derived largely from the latter's map published earlier in the year... Depicting the Pacific alone it does not include much detail inland from the west coast of the Americas. North America is largely obscured by the decorative title cartouche. This does, however, enable it to introduce some detail of the East Indies. A notable difference between this and the Hogenberg is the introduction of a considerably narrower and more correct North America at the latitude of the Tropic of Cancer. This had probably come to light through the increased exploration of the Spanish to the west of Mexico City and along that coastline. It, however, erroneously extends the longitudinal distance of the west coast of North America. The head of the Gulf of California is also depicted in a new form, with the R. Grande being introduced for the first time... Being one of Ortelius' most desirable maps combined with the fact that it was not issued in the atlas until 1590, it is not as available as the various versions of his map of America..." This is the first state of the map, with date of 1589 in the plate, and the issue from the 1603 atlas, with signature mark 6 on the verso, etc. Latin text on verso. Burden 74; Wagner NW Coast 156; Wheat Transmississippi 24.