Antique World Map by Visscher (c.1679)

Description: Antique map titled 'Novissima Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula, Auctore Nicolao Visscher'. Gorgeous example of Nicholas Visscher's World map, which appeared in his Atlas Minor after 1679. The map is similar to Visscher's World map of 1659 (Shirley 406), only with the Straits of Anian being reduced to cover only 10 degrees. The surrounding decorations are completely redone and include vivid scenes of the signs of the Zodiac along with Cherubs and other heavenly figures. California is showns as an island. There is only one open ended Great Lake. Australia and New Zealand are substantially incomplete, although Australia is tentatively severed from New Guinea. Visscher abandons the speculative unknown southern continent, prefering to show the Antarctic as without land masses.

Artists and Engravers: The Visscher family were art and map dealers in Amsterdam during the 17th century. Funded by C. J. Visscher (1587-1652), the business was continued by his son and grandson both named Nicolas. Nicolas Visscher I was born 1618 in Wenns, Austria. He died 1679 in Linz. After the death of Nicolas II, his widow passed the business to Pieter Schenk.