A New And Accurat Map Of The World ...
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From the first world atlas produced in England, this sought-after map is, in its first edition of 1627, the earliest world map available to show the famous misconception of California as an island, and here in its fourth state (showing the date of engraving "1651"). The plate is also remarkable for the mass of decoration and information including allegorical figures representing the four elements - Water, Earth, Fire and "Aire"; diagrams of "Heavens and Elements", eclipses, celestial hemispheres and portraits of the circumnavigators - Drake, Cavendish, Magellan and Van Noort. John Speed's map is a compendium of information, showing a prominent "Southerne Unknowne Land" described as home to "The Country of Parrats", the mythical islands of "Brazil" and Frisland" in the Atlantic and many other curiosities. In very attractive colour this is a good example of one of the best known and most important of English world maps.
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