MUNSTER, Sebastian. [Portrait of Erasmus of Rotterdam]
Basle, c.1560, Latin text edition. Woodcut, image size 120 x 100mm, set in text.
Portrait in profile of the famous theologian, writer and philosopher, Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam (1469-1536) . On verso is another woodcut, showing an earthquake in Basle, Munster's adopted hometown.
[Ref: 8603]    £80.00 ($123 • €97 rates)

BÜNTING, Heinrich. [Asia as Pegasus]
Asia Secunda pars Terræ in Forma Pegasir. Magdeburg, 1581-, German edition. Woodcut, printed area 300 x 370mm. Backed with archivist's tissue.
The famous fantasy map depicting Asia as Pegasus, the winged horse of Perseus. The head is Turkey and Armenia, the wings Scythia and Tartary, forelegs Arabia, hind legs India and the Malay Peninsula. The map appears in Bünting's Itinerarium, in which the author, a theologian, rewrote the Bible as an travel book. with other fantasy maps including the World as a cloverleaf and Europe as a queen.
[Ref: 11191]    £2,600.00 ($4,004 • €3,146 rates)

BÜNTING, Heinrich. [Europe as a Queen from Bunting's Itinerarium]
Europa Prima Pars Terræ in Forma Virginis. Magdeburg, 1581-, German edition. Woodcut, printed area 300 x 370mm. Backed with archivist's tissue, lateral edges chipped.
The famous fantasy map depicting Europe as a queen, with Iberia her head and crown; Denmark her right arm; Italy her left arm with Sicily an orb in her hand; Greece, the Balkans and Russia her skirts; and Bohemia a medallion on a chain around her neck. The map appears in Bünting's Itinerarium, in which the author, a theologian, rewrote the Bible as a travel book. with other fantasy maps including the World as a cloverleaf and Asia as Pegasus, the winged horse of Perseus.
[Ref: 11192]    £2,600.00 ($4,004 • €3,146 rates)

MERCATOR, Gerard. [Italy titlepage]
Italiae Sclavoniæ, et Græciæ tabule geographice... Amsterdam, Jodocus Hondius, 1606-. Original colour with gold highlights. 290 x 190mm.
One of the half-titles of Mercator's Atlas, with the title within an architectural frame. KOEMAN: Me 15.
[Ref: 2583]    £150.00 ($231 • €182 rates)

DU VAL, Pierre. La Géographie Universelle... Paris, 1682. Original outline colour. 100 x 130mm.
A decorative title page from Du Val's "Géographie Universelle", the title surrounded by an elegant baroque frame, with depictions of the Continents of Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia in the corners.
[Ref: 10872]    £75.00 ($116 • €91 rates)

MORTIER, Pieter. [Highly decorative Index to the Maps in the 'Atlas Nouveau']
Table des Cartes etc: Du Sr. Sanson. Contenant Dans cd Vollume. Amsterdam, Pieter Mortier, c.1705. Original colour. 560 x 435mm.
The list of maps is on a letterpress label stuck within the decorative borders. Strangely, it is the second label stuck on, suggesting that Mortier was using up old sheets. Attractive original colouring. KOEMAN: Mor 1.
[Ref: 8702]    £460.00 ($708 • €557 rates)

Anonymous. [A Satirical Map Of The Mississippi Bubble]
Afbeeldinge Van't Zeer Vermaarde Eiland Geks-Kop. Amsterdam, 1720, 290 x 230mm Trimmed close to neatline, bottom right corner repaired.
A map of the island of "Geks-Kop" (fools cap) from "Het Groote Tafereel Der Dwaasheid" (The Great Mirror Of Folly). The title translates as "A representation of the very famous island of Mad-head, lying in the sea of shares, discovered by Mr. Law-rens, and inhabited by a collection of all kinds of people, to whom are given the general name shareholders." At the center of the image is a map of an island depicted as the head of a Fool wearing his traditional cap, the place names on the map have such names as Blind Fort, Bubble River, and Mad House, surrounded by the islets of Poverty, Sorrow, and Despair. Either side of the central map are a number of additional images, including a crowd stoning the headquarters of the Compagnie and a creditor fleeing his investors in a land-yacht. This satirical engraving of the Mississippi Bubble is one of the most famous cartographic curiosities. It represents the collapse of the French Compagnie de la Louisiane d'Occident, and similar English and Dutch companies. John Law, a Scottish financier, established the company in 1717 . The Compagnie was granted control of Louisiana, and its plans to exploit the resources of the region - the "Mississippi Scheme" - captured the popular imagination. Believing that the region was a source of limitless wealth, people rushed to invest. Share prices opened at 500 livres, but rapidly rose to 18,000 livres. At this point, speculators indulged in profit-taking, causing a run on the shares. Confidence collapsed, causing a run on the company's capital and the company went bankrupt. Many individuals were ruined, not only in France, but throughout Europe. As a consequence of the failure of the Mississippi Scheme, confidence in other similar schemes failed, [and many ventures,] including the English South Sea Company collapsed, as did a number of smaller Dutch companies. The general term 'Bubbles' was applied to such schemes where promises proved illusory, burst by the pin of reality.
[Ref: 10616]    £780.00 ($1,201 • €944 rates)

KIRKALL, Elisha. [Frontispiece to Vol. II.] London, c.1720. 300 x 210mm.
Engraved by Kirkall, possibly for Colen Campbell's "Vitruvius Britannicus".
[Ref: 10425]    £65.00 ($100 • €79 rates)

CHÂTELAIN, Henri Abraham. Atlas Historique. Tome II. Amsterdam, 1721. 400 x 245mm. Some slight creasing
Decorative engraved title, drawn by Romain de Hooge and engraved by Sluyter. Allegorical figures represent various countries & states, including Britannia and the Lion of Venice.
[Ref: 7754]    £180.00 ($277 • €218 rates)

CHÂTELAIN, Henri Abraham. Atlas Historique. Tome IV. Amsterdam, c.1721. 400 x 245mm. Some slight creasing.
Decorative engraved title, with allegorical figures representing the countries of Northern Europe.
[Ref: 7765]    £180.00 ($277 • €218 rates)