177. Hondius, Jodocus: Accuratissima Brasiliae Tabula.

Amsterdam, c. 1640.
A finely detailed, coloured, copper-engraved map of Brazil by Jodocus Hondius, prepared for the later editions of the Mercator-Hondius atlas. The sheet, unusually oriented with north to the right, is one of the most significant depictions of South America from the first half of the 17th century, reflecting both the geographical knowledge of the period and the high standard of Dutch cartography. The map depicts Brazil’s coastline with a detailed toponymy, highlighting major settlements, rivers, and geographical features. The coastline is carefully drawn and the hydrography richly rendered, while in the interior – alongside the hypothetical cartographic elements typical of the period – the naming of numerous indigenous tribes lends the depiction considerable documentary value. The engraver enriched the composition with numerous vignettes: ships and sea creatures populate the seas, while exotic animals and indigenous figures appear on land. The most striking elements of the map are the cartouches. The large, figurative title cartouche, depicting the indigenous peoples of Brazil, reflects both the European perspective of the period and a keen interest in the “New World”. At the top centre, a second cartouche contains two inset maps reflecting heightened interest in the intensifying Dutch-Portuguese struggle over Brazil, featuring regional depictions of Bahia, the Portuguese capital, and Pernambuco, the newly occupied sugar centre. The third cartouche, adorned with an armillary sphere, frames the scale bar. Given the absence of explanatory text on the verso of most copies, it is likely that the map was issued either as a separate sheet or as part of a composite atlas.
Dimensions: 380 × 490 (400 × 515) mm. Fine, clean copy.
van der Krogt III.: 9850:1.1. 
 
Starting price: ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​150 000 Ft