Mapas Españoles de America. Siglos XV-XVII
Madrid: Maestre, 1951. First edition. Hardcover. 1/312, out of series. Atlas folio. (xv) 351pp. 3/4 grey cloth over orange marbled paper boards, with gilt lettering over red labels on the spine. White string ties. The publication is a portfolio containing loose pages and plates. Includes 78 plates of facsimile reproductions of early Spanish maps of the Americas, dating from 1493-1699. There is an appendix and bibliographic section at the rear. Among the maps included are a map of the north coast of Hispaniola by Christopher Columbus from 1493, most likely from his first voyage, and the Map of Juan de la Cosa, from 1500. The Columbus map depicts what can be considered the first map of any location in the New World. The de la Cosa map is known as the earliest undisputed world map (mappa mundi) showing the Americas, to the extend they were known at the time. Plates 29, 34, 38 and 39 show period maps accompanied by transparent tissue paper overlays revealing their modern accurate counterparts, for comparison. The maps are reproduced in b/w and color photogravure, some with beautiful gilt over-painting. Each plate is supplemented by scholarly writings giving historical background to the maps and indexes of place names. Text in Spanish.
The boards of the original slipcase are broken but present. Binding with some light scratches to the orange paper on the covers as well as some minor rubbing and cracking at the head and tail of the front hinge of the spine. Interior with some sporadic minor smudges and small water stains at the margins of some pages. All text and images unaffected. Binding in very good-, interior in very good+ condition overall. Item #42934
Price: $875.00