Original 1757 Map AMERICA WITH MYTHICAL SEA OF THE WEST Nicolai Jonge Fridrich

Description: Beautiful antique copperplate engraved 1757 map of the Americas locating the mythical "Sea of the West." The map was compiled by Nicolai Jonge and published in Baron Ludvig Holberg's An Introduction to Universal History, Copenhagen, 1757. The image area measures 19.5 x 19.4 cm [7¾" x 7¾"], and the map was engraved by Fridrich, with text in Danish. It is in original hand color and has a decorative title cartouche with a seated woman holding a staff with a hat on top. A cornucopia under her left arm is overflowing with fruit and flowers. A vast inland body of water with three islands, situated north of California and west of Lake Winnipeg, is labeled "West Søe," identifying a large "Sea of the West" which does not actually exist. That it shows here is a reflection of hopes in the early 18th century of finding a relatively easy water route across the continent of North America, embellished by Indian reports which seemed to suggest the lake's presence. Its first appearance may have been on a double hemisphere world map by French cartographer Jean Baptiste Nolin in the early 1700s, later picked up by Dutch publishers Covens & Mortier for their world maps, and one of these maps have been the basis for its inclusion on this map by Nicolai Jonge. The explorations of the northwest coast by George Vancouver and James Cook in the late 1770s provided good evidence that there was no such inland sea and the "Sea of the West" would no longer show on maps. Numerous other named places and features on both the American continents as well as islands in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans add visual appeal and historic interest to this scarce map. Condition: This map is in very good condition, with folds, as issued, a narrow margin at the left, and a tiny repaired edge tear. It is blank on the back, with no printing on the reverse side. Please see the scans and feel free to ask any questions. This is an original, authentic antique map, not a reproduction or modern reprint, and it is fully guaranteed to be genuine. Buy with confidence! We are always happy to combine shipping on the purchase of multiple items — just make sure to pay for everything at one time, not individually. Powered by SixBit's eCommerce Solution

Price: 1249.99 USD

Location: Lake Worth, Florida

End Time: 2023-12-17T13:00:34.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6 USD