Maps & Atlases

The cradle of Dutch mapping of South East Asia and the Philippines, a beautifully decorated portolan chart, made shortly after the first Dutch voyages to the East Indies

Exceptionally early portolan chart of Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Japan, created by the mapmakers of the North Holland School of Cartography, it has been academically attributed to the Edam School and probably Cornelis Doedsz (?-1613), the most prominent cartographer from this school; the rarity of Dutch portolan charts of this period in the market is exceptional. This chart is one of the earliest Dutch charts of the region, created shortly after the first of second Dutch voyage to the East Indies, which ushered the Dutch maritime global empire, it is also one of the earliest charts to show the Philippines.

The Culmination of Ortelius's Theatrum

Important edition and a superb example of Ortelius atlas in contemporary color and original binding, “The 1609 (1612) Latin edition of the Theatrum is the most complete edition of this atlas” - Van Der Krogt (31:054).

The largest surviving wall-map of the World to this date published in England

One of four known copies of this exceptional large English map of the World on Mercator's projection, the largest surviving wall-map of the World to this date published in England, and Morden’s most ambitious creation.

Exceptional Portolan chart, likely made by famed cartographer and chart maker, Luis Texeira

A visually striking portolan chart of the Mediterranean, North Africa and parts of the Middle East, fabulously decorated, and preserved in beautiful condition, stylistically undoubtedly Portuguese and likely made by prominent chart maker Luis Texeira (who in turn was father to Joao Teixeira Albernaz I, also a famed chart maker). To Luis Texeira it is owed the map of Japan included in Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, a natural chart to be made by a Portuguese, due to strong Portuguese presence in the region, and also the Magna Orbis large wall map of the world.

A rare wall map of South America by William Faden with Napoleonic provenance

This is Faden’s publication of Cruz Cano y Olmedilla’s iconic map of South America (Madrid 1775), a map created at the instances of Thomas Jefferson and contributed by Francisco de Miranda. Thomas Smith’s analysis on the original map written in 1966 equated it with Dr. John Mitchell’s iconic ‘Map of the British and French Dominions in North America’ published in 1755. He stated ‘Both were large, detailed, beautifully engraved on copper, and based on careful compilation and discriminating use of source materials. Each one, the best map of its area, which published in several editions and was not to be displaced for decades. They both were widely used and featured in diplomatic negotiations for a century or more after their initial appearances.” One notable difference however is rarity. Whilst the Mitchell map is relatively available, the Cruz Cano map was suppressed and does not appear to have been seen at auction since 1970.

Splendid wall map of Mexico City, printed in Mexico; extremely rare first edition.

Fine nine-sheet plan of Mexico City surveyed by Diego Garcia Conde and compiled by some of Mexico's most important engravers and artists. It was published in Mexico City in 1807. This is a rare first edition, of which very few examples survive.

The first atlas printed in Mexico, first American edition of the West Indies Portulano

First edition printed in the Americas of the West Indies Portulano, showing the Spanish controlled ports in the United States, Mexico, the Antilles, Cuba, amongst other places, and the first printed atlas in Mexico; exceptionally rare, only 6 copies known in institutional collections. The Portulano was first published in Madrid in 1809, a second enlarged edition appeared in 1818, also in Madrid, this is the third overall, and the first to be printed in America, entirely re-engraved, a masterpiece of Mexican printing.

A plan of Rio de Janeiro by the Comte de Breteuil, the last prime minister of pre-revolutionary France, together with one of the earliest manuscript prospects of the city.

Louis Charles Auguste le Tonnelier, baron de Breteuil, baron de Preuilly (1730-1807) was a French aristocrat, diplomat, statesman and politician. He was the last Prime Minister of the Bourbon Monarchy, appointed by King Louis XVI only one hundred hours before the storming of the Bastille.

The Most Important Map of North America Published in England in the Seventeenth Century.

Fine example of Henry Briggs’ famous map of North America, one of the most important and influential printed maps of the seventeenth century. It was included in Samuel Purchas’ voyage collection Hakluytus Posthumus, or Purchas his Pilgrimes, one of the most well-known travel books ever published in English.

Willem Barentsz's Map of the Polar Regions, drawn from his observations during his third voyage of 1596-97 and engraved by Baptiste Van Deutecum.

The Barentsz map of the Polar Regions is a major landmark in Arctic cartography, depicting the details of his third voyage of 1596-7. After becoming stuck on the ice and being forced to winter in the Polar regions, Barentsz utilized his time to create an elaborate and highly decorative manuscript map depicting his observations.

The very rare atlas to accompany the reconnaissance and espionage mission and exploration of Western interior of the United States

A remarkable example, in the original blue wrappers, of one of the rarest and most desirable atlases of Western American exploration - containing a suite of beautifully engraved maps, plates and views, summarizing the American frontier at the end of the 18th century, before its detailed exploration by Lewis & Clark and their colleagues. This atlas has an intriguing publishing history, described below, which has added to its allure.