A pair of 17th century maps of the Poles with illustrated borders

HONDIUS, Henricus.

Poli Arctici, et Circumiacentium Terrarum Descriptio Novissima. [&] Polus Antarcticus.
Amsterdam, c.1640, French text edition. Fine original colour. Each c.435 x 500mm.

A pair of maps of the North and South Poles, published in the 'Nouvel Atlas'. The North Pole is surrounded by four views of the whaling industry, the South with vignettes of different races of the Southern Hemisphere.

The beginning of the 17th century saw increased exploration of the waters of the Arctic: firstly because of competition between the English and Dutch whalers, and secondly the desire to find both a North West Passage above America and a North East Passage over Russia, enabling the two nations to reach the East Indies without interference from the Spanish and Portuguese.

The different spheres of influence can be seen in the place names: eastern Greenland has 'M.Forbishers Streate', 'Q.Elisabeths forland' and 'London coast'; Spitzbergen has 'S.Thomas Smyths Land'; but Labrador is marked with 'Orange Bay' and various 'hoecks'.

The map of the Southern Hemisphere important as one of the first maps to show the discoveries of Pieter Nuyts on the southern coast of Australia, prior to the arrival of Tasman and his discovery of Tasmania in 1642. Later states of this map has the title moved to make space for the inclusion of New Zealand.

BURDEN: 246. state 3 of 7, first atlas state; SCHILDER: Map 44, first state.
Stock ID : 20860