“A NEW AND ACCVRAT MAP OF THE WORLD” John Speed. London: Thomas Bassett & Richard Chiswell, c. 1676. Though dated 1646 at the bottom, this map was issued in the Miniature Speed Atlas: An Epitome of Mr. John Speed’s Theatre of the Empire of Great Britain. Original Engraved map. Verso text: English. Reference: Shirley # 368. (Paper: 108 x 158mm – 4 ¼ x 6 ¼’’ Image: 85 x 122mm – 3 3/8 x 4 ¾’’)
A doulbe hemispheric world map, beautifully engraved by Pieter van den Keere. This miniature map depicts the northwest coast of North America with California as a peninsula and a conjectural coastline extending to the Strait of Anian. A Northwest Passage is also feasible on this map.
The large southern land mass of present-day Antarctica is noted as “Unknowne Land” on the eastern hemisphere and as “Magallanica” in the western hemisphere.
Surrounding each globe is one of the four elements - each engraved within a ribbon (water, air, fire and earth).
Excellent condition and a seldom seen map. Speed's Epitome is much rarer than the larger Speed folio atlas and this map is quite scarce on the market.
Presented in an archival 11 x 14'' mat