165. Jansson, Jan: Nova Anglia Novum Belgium et Virginia

Amsterdam, 1637.
A copperplate map of the eastern coast of North America, from Nova Scotia to Virginia, by Jan Jansson. The sheet is based on Hessel Gerritsz’s map of 1630, which is considered a milestone in the region’s cartography. It is one of the earliest depictions of the mushrooming Dutch and English settlements – including Manhattan (Manbattes), New York (N. Amsterdam), founded in 1626, Albany (Fort Orangen), and Massachusetts – as well as the Great Lakes (Grand Lac and Lac des Yroquois), the Hudson (Noordt Rivier), and the Delaware (Zuyd Rivier) rivers. The engraver illustrated the work with a cartouche inland decorated with plant ornaments, galleys, sea monsters, and compass roses. The piece is particularly rare because of its blank verso. Due to the lack of explanatory text on most copies, it was presumably distributed as a separate sheet or as part of a composite atlas.
Dimensions: 390 x 505 (405 x 525) mm. Fine, clear copy.
Burden: 247. (state 1.); van der Krogt I.: 9310:1A.1.; Koeman II.: Me 362.
 
Starting price: 250 000,-