WEST INDIES. Jansson. 1636/1647.
Insulae Americanae in Oceano Septentrionali, cum Terris adiacentibus. Imprint: Amstelodami, Apud Ioannem Ianssonium. 15"h x 20"w. Centerfold repair. Image in excellent condition. French text verso.

Published in Nouvel Atlas ou Theatre du Monde (Amsterdam: Jan Jansson, 1647). Koeman Me 106. The earliest version of this map appeared in a 1636 German edition (Me 44) also published by Jansson. Burden 248, State 1.

This is a very decorative map with rhumb lines, compass roses, sailing ships and the elaborate, flowing calligraphy of Jansson. By this time the islands had been well explored and their configurations are very recognizable. The map extends as far north as the Chesapeake Bay, as far west as the east coast of Mexico, and as far south as Colombia. This map was meant for use as a sea chart, and only coastal cities and ports are identified. The names along the coasts of Florida and the Carolinas are in Spanish.

WEST INDIES. Visscher. c.1682.

Insulæ Americanæ in Oceano Septentrionali ac Regiones Adiacentes, a C. de May usque ad Lineam Æquinoctialem. Par Nicolaum Visscher. Cum Privilegio Ordinum Hollandæ et Westfrisiæ.

18” h x 22”w. Old color augmented.

Map by Nicolaus Visscher II.

Published in Atlas Minor and others. Amsterdam. First published c.1680. This edition published c.1682.

Covers the south-eastern U.S., the Caribbean islands, part of Mexico, Central America, and part of South America. Florida is called Tegesta Prov. Cartouches with cherubs and mermaids decorate the seas in opposite corners. Ships sailing the seas and three native canoes are depicted off the coast of North America. A large nonexistent lake in the region of western Georgia and a non-existent mountain range extending from the Piedmonts across the North American continent are shown.

Reference: Burden, The Mapping of North America II, 531. State 2 with the privilege.

WEST INDIES. Coronelli. 1695?
Isole Antili, La Cuba, La Spagnuola, Descritte, e Dedicate Dal Padre Maestro Coronelli; Lettore, e Cosmografo della Serenissima Republica di Venetia All' Illustrissimo S. Sebastiano Bernardi, su dell Ecc: S. Francesco. 10"h x 17"w. Stains in lower margin within 3/8" of neat line. Image very good. Full color.

Apparently from Coronelli's Atlante Veneto ... (Venice: Coronelli, 1695) which contains a map with the above title. Coronelli (1650-1718) was a Franciscan priest and theologian, but found time to compile and engrave over 500 maps. In 1685 he became Cosmographer to the Venetian Republic, and in 1699 was appointed Father General of his order.

The map shows the tips of Florida (“Tagouesta” on this map) and Yucatan, the West Indies, and part of South America. A note at the left of the title cartouche states “Guanahani scoperta da Columbo”. Guanahani is the native name for the island where Columbus supposedly landed in 1492 and subsequently called San Salvador. The West Indies are exaggerated in scale and leave little room for the Caribbean Sea.

Reference Phillips, Atlases 521.

WEST INDIES. Rees. 1806.
West Indies. Lower right: Harrison sc’t. 16”w x 9 ¾”h. Engraved by Harrison.

Published in Abraham Rees, The Cyclopaedia, or Universal Dictionary..... (Philadelphia, S. F. Bradford, Murray, Fairman & Co., 1806).

Coverage includes Southern US from Florida to New Mexico, Mexico, Central America and the northern portion of South America.

Reference Phillips Atlases, Vol. 1, Entry 711.