Fine sea chart of the Pacific, with California as an Island

DE WIT, Frederick.

Magnum Mare del Zur cum Insula California.
Amsterdam: R. & J. Ottens, 1745. Coloured. 500 x 550mm.

A sea chart of the Pacific, filled with some of the most famous cartographic misconceptions. California is an island; the northern coastline of Australia is shown, joined by the Cape York Peninsula to New Guinea; Tasmania is a long way away from any other coastline; the partial coastline of New Zealand is marked; and to the north of Japan are both 'Ezo' and 'Compagnies lant', semi-mythical islands. A highly decorative title cartouche fills the bottom right corner, depicting Neptune in a chariot and a medallion portrait of Magellan.
This chart was first published in the 'Orbis Maritimus ofte Zee Atlas' in 1675, an atlas described by Koeman as ''intended for use at sea and not only for the consultation on shore''. Louis Renard made small updates to the plate in 1715 (for example altering the shape of Tasmania). In the upper right the Ottens brothers have added the coastline of Tartary and changed the shapes of Japan and Ezo; and in the central Pacific added the Solomon Islands and 'T. Land van H. Geest', Espiritu Santo.

McLAUGHLIN: 226.
Stock ID : 20420