“TABULA MAGELLANICA, QUA TIERRAE DEL FUEGO...” Amsterdam: Arnoldus Montanus, 1671. Engraved map with later hand-coloring. (Image: 12 x 14 5/8'')
This is one of the most elaborately decorated maps which focuses on the southernmost tip of South America with the Strait of Magellan & Le Maire Strait! Magellanica is heavily adorned with natives and indigenous creatures (including penguins), plus a hunting scene. Topographical features are shown and villages, waterways and mountains are located.
The elaborate title cartouche depicts putti, a mermaid, a river god spilling the contents of a vessel into the water, and an allegorical figure of Navigation holding a steering rudder. The distance scale is ornamented with a geographer with his hand on a large terrestrial globe. Ships, a sea battle and a sea monster embellish the sea. The top two keys are supported by a host of putti. The sea is adorned with a pair of compass roses, ships at sea and a very large sea battle.
Shipped unmatted