.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Atlases from a Private Swiss Collection
WIT, Frederick de (1629⁄30-1706)
Composite Atlas. Amsterdam: F. de Wit, [n.d. but circa 1690].
Details
WIT, Frederick de (1629⁄30-1706)
Composite Atlas. Amsterdam: F. de Wit, [n.d. but circa 1690].
A rare De Wit atlas with fine contemporary hand-colouring throughout. There are two world maps: one for the terrestrial section in second state with cherubs placed in the cusps and a border added, showing California as an island with no Pacific Northwest or Alaska, the Great Lakes incomplete, Nova Guinea appearing and the only the extreme northern part of Australia ‘Quiri regio’ shown, all surrounded by a magnificent engraved allegory of the four seasons and the signs of the zodiac (Shirley 451, ‘one of the most attractive maps of its time’); and the other for the maritime section with ‘large and lively scenes allegorically representing the four elements’ (Shirley 444).
There are a number of maps that relate to the Americas. The map of the continents of North and South Americas in the terrestrial section is Burden II, 465, in the second state which he dates to c.1690 with the addition of the privilegium which was added sometime after 1689. The maritime section has four fine charts relating to North America, including the Pacific Ocean with California as an island (Burden II,469), as well as those of Hudson’s Bay, Atlantic approaches and the Caribbean (Burden II, 466-168). Koeman III, Wit 16.
Folio (540 x 340mm). 150 (only, of 151) double-page engraved maps all coloured by a contemporary hand, allegorical frontispiece depicting Atlas supporting the heavens, letterpress index on verso, second letterpress index (lacking map 19, Gouvernment de Orleanois, map 81, Moreae, defective lacking right-hand panel of views, frontispiece heavily soiled and defective with large portion repaired affecting globe, the whole remargined with extensive repairs to verso with loss to letterpress of 8 map listings, second index as well as first and last maps mounted onto stiff paper with marginal repairs, a few other maps with small repairs to either margins or on versos, frontispiece and a couple of maps loose including that of Champagne which is stained in the upper margin with some associated short tears, a couple of margins unevenly trimmed, some light browning and staining throughout). 17th-century panelled vellum, with 19th-century morocco reback (soiled and worn). Provenance: Mr Moore (ink presentation inscription on front pastedown dated 1876 to:) – Percy Ellis.
Composite Atlas. Amsterdam: F. de Wit, [n.d. but circa 1690].
A rare De Wit atlas with fine contemporary hand-colouring throughout. There are two world maps: one for the terrestrial section in second state with cherubs placed in the cusps and a border added, showing California as an island with no Pacific Northwest or Alaska, the Great Lakes incomplete, Nova Guinea appearing and the only the extreme northern part of Australia ‘Quiri regio’ shown, all surrounded by a magnificent engraved allegory of the four seasons and the signs of the zodiac (Shirley 451, ‘one of the most attractive maps of its time’); and the other for the maritime section with ‘large and lively scenes allegorically representing the four elements’ (Shirley 444).
There are a number of maps that relate to the Americas. The map of the continents of North and South Americas in the terrestrial section is Burden II, 465, in the second state which he dates to c.1690 with the addition of the privilegium which was added sometime after 1689. The maritime section has four fine charts relating to North America, including the Pacific Ocean with California as an island (Burden II,469), as well as those of Hudson’s Bay, Atlantic approaches and the Caribbean (Burden II, 466-168). Koeman III, Wit 16.
Folio (540 x 340mm). 150 (only, of 151) double-page engraved maps all coloured by a contemporary hand, allegorical frontispiece depicting Atlas supporting the heavens, letterpress index on verso, second letterpress index (lacking map 19, Gouvernment de Orleanois, map 81, Moreae, defective lacking right-hand panel of views, frontispiece heavily soiled and defective with large portion repaired affecting globe, the whole remargined with extensive repairs to verso with loss to letterpress of 8 map listings, second index as well as first and last maps mounted onto stiff paper with marginal repairs, a few other maps with small repairs to either margins or on versos, frontispiece and a couple of maps loose including that of Champagne which is stained in the upper margin with some associated short tears, a couple of margins unevenly trimmed, some light browning and staining throughout). 17th-century panelled vellum, with 19th-century morocco reback (soiled and worn). Provenance: Mr Moore (ink presentation inscription on front pastedown dated 1876 to:) – Percy Ellis.
Brought to you by
Eugenio Donadoni
Senior Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts