Antique Maps Leen Helmink Antique map of Magellanica by Janssonius Click here or on the image for a high resolution photo or scan. MAKER Janssonius TITLE Tabula MAGELLANICA qua TIERRA DEL FUEGO PLACE ISSUED Amsterdam FIRST EDITION 1657 THIS EDITION 1657 SIZE (hxw cms) 40.9 x 53.0 AREA SHOWN Magellanica TECHNIQUE Copper engraving COLOURING or.col. CONDITION The overall quality of this antique map is excellent DESCRIPTION FIRST EDITION. One of the most decorative antique maps of all times. One of the earliest maps showing Tierra del Fuego as an Island instead of a part of a great Southern Continent. The map is based on the discoveries by Schouten and Lemaire that disclosed an alternative route around Cape Hoorn that avoids Magellan's Strait. This possibility was already hinted at by Sir Francis Drake. This map is considered one of the most decorative maps of the seventeenth century, with four strapwork cartouches, cherubs, and showing many local natives, birds, and pinguins. A variable 'sliding' graduation scale (a "checkerboard") is given, to compensate for the projection distortion at this lattitude. Relatively new for the time of publication, there is no big Southern Continent, because Tierra del Fuego is correctly assumed to be an island, as proven in 1616 (by Schouten & LeMaire who sailed around Cape Hoorn) and already suspected by Sir Francis Drake during his famous Circumnavigation of the world in 1577-79, when blown far south by a storm after reaching the Pacific through Magellan's Strait. "The West Occidental [the Western Ocean] and the South Sea are but one!". "'Golden Hind' anchored off Henderson Island [='False Cape Horn'] on 24 October 1578 and tarried until a new moon rose on 1 November. Master Fletcher went ashore with the Captain General, walked down the grassy slopes, found them thick with delicious wild currants and on its southernmost point set up a stone and carved thereupon the date and the Queen's name. Drake later told Hawkins that he 'grovelled' - threw hinself on his belly - at the uttermost tip of this cape and stretched out his arms as far as he could toward the South Pole, so he could boast that no man had been so near it as himself. So typical of Drake - always something of the big boy in him." (Samuel Morison - "The Great Explorers"). Cornelis Koeman, "Atlantes Neerlandici" Me map 679. Ronald Tooley, "Maps and Map-Makers" Fig. 84. Tony Campbell, "Hoogtepunten uit de wereld van de Cartografie" Fig. 29. GUARANTEE We do not sell reproductions. We guarantee that this is a genuine and original antique map that was published on or near the given date. A certificate of authentication is provided on request. Price € 1500 Antique Maps Leen Helmink