Rare books from The Prime Meridian: Antique Maps & Books

Paris: Maradan, 1789. Small 4to (10 inches); first French edition (there was a smaller and later 8vo. edition in 2 volumes). Contemporary vellum spine separated at front edge (boards attached and binding sound), with somewhat later boards and endpapers, with red gilt-lettered label intact though a bit scuffed and slightly chipped at the right lower edge. Boards a bit scuffed at edges; binding tight, interior very good or better with all 22 engraved plates (numbered 1-21, plus the large folding frontis map (color coded for voyage routes and titled "Carte des Voyages du King George et de la Reine Charlotte...). This is 499 pp, including appendix I, plus appendix II of 46pp, followed by the 2 pp Approbation. One of the plates is of a Native American, plus there are several maps and views, along with the later engravings of several birds (very attractive). This is an increasingly uncommon and very nice copy of this detailed explorations of the Pacific Northwest and Queen Charlotte Islands, with all… Read More

London: Christopher Browne (at the Globe near the West End of St. Pauls Church), 1695. Good, hand colored outlines, This is the Christopher Browne imprint (see Roderick M. Barron's description in his catalogue 33 as to the recent discovery of this imprint, separate from the more commonly reported Bassett and Chiswell 1676 plate), which may be more common than initially thought. Browne published a bit later, and had purchased the Bassett and Chiswell plates, then changed the name on a few of those (of which this plate was one; very few survive), and the date here is approximate. This is a striking image with Jerusalem inset, newly updated and published in the 1676 edition (date approximate) of Speed's " A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World". There is some general browning, with some professional restorations at folds (virtually no image loss), mild upper margin staining (mostly in blank areas) and backed with Japon paper. A custom case was made for this map, after… Read More

Braun & Hogenberg, 1598. Near fine, early color, latin edition (applicable text verso). Very decorative town plan of Toledo, Spain from this edition of the famous city atlas. Cherubim, palace, temple all present as separate images. These plans are well-known to collectors, and this particular item is increasingly uncommon. The full atlas was published in 6 volumes, in various editions, from 1572-1617. It was a collaborative work between many artists, engravers and cartographers (for a nice discussion of the history of this atlas, see Goss's THE MAPMAKERS ART, pp. 260-5). The map image measures 12.75x20 inches..

Dordrecht: Keur, 1748. Very good double hemisphere world map from a Keur bible, b&w as issued. The engraver/designer for this map was J. v. Jagen (sculps. et dir.; engraved on lower central edge of plate just inside neatline). Folds as issued. Two smaller spheres upper (Polus Arcticus) and lower (Polus Antarcticus) center. The majority of place names and verso text are in Dtuch. The decorative allegorical surrounds are quite nice. The map image measures 30 x 45 cm, with the diameter of each hemisphere measuring 22 cm. The Keur family were active bible publishers from the mid 17th to mid 18th centuries. This particular map corresponds to variant K III, entry 137, p. 205 in Poortman and Augusteijn's "Kaarten in Bijbels..." The map date is approximate. There is no recto title banner for this issue.. Very Good. Map.

Amsterdam: I(oshue) Ottens, 1667. A more complete title for this copper-plate etching with two views is: Afbeeldingh van de stadt en revier van Rochester, Chetham, etc. Aerdigh na 't leven geteeckent door W. Schellinks van de zuydt-west syde, waer in klaer vertoont wert de victorieuse uytwerckingh van de oorlochs vloot der ... Staten Generael ... voorgevallen op den 19, 20, 21, 22, en 23 Iunii 1667. uytgegeven by I.Ottens tot Amsterdam. [Daaronder:] Het eylandt Shepey en 't fort Shirenasse verovert ende geplondert op den 20 en 21 Juny 1667. Very good, heavy paper, fold at center (with lesser right sided vertical crease) b&w (as issued) detailed and decorative engraving of this late stage following the Dutch attack at Medway, led by Dutch Lieutenant Admiral Michiel de Ruyter, under the supervision of Dutch politician, the Grand Pensionary of Holland Johan de Witt. Of those online entries for this pair of engravings, all I have found are attributable to publisher N. Visscher, and this is… Read More

London: Wm. Faden, 1777. Very good, minimal wash color as issued, with remarks indicating the survey order of Genr. Pownall. This uncommon map relates to the invasion of Canada. A few small archival taped repairs in margin verso. Heavy paper, very ittle browning This is the later state (2nd), with the dedication to Major General John Burgoyne, and the table of the "Winter Quarters of the Kings Army in Canada..." Below the cartouche: London, Published as the Act directs, Feby. 25. 1777 by Wm. Faden, Corner of St. Martin's Lane, Charing Cross. Ref: McCorckle, New England in Early Printed Maps, entry 777.19; Nebenzahl, entry 43. Folds as issued. Image measures 57 x 85 cm (22.5 x 33. 5 inches).. First Edition Thus. Very Good. Map.

Paris: le Rouge, 1777. Very good/excellent, hand colored outlines, trimmed a bit close at margin (due to binding in prior Le Rouge atlas, "Atlas Ameriquain Septentrional..."). Image measuring 62 x 50 cm (24 x 20 inches). This is a clean impression on heavy paper. Three insets: Louisiane, southeast coastal region (Floride), Sault du Niagra. "Par le Sr. le Rouge, ingenieur geographe du Roy." appears after title in upper margin. This is McCorkle entry 777.14, without the "Corrigee...M. Hawkins...". Apparently Le Rouge reworked his early map (Canada et Louisane..) of 1755, and changed the title for this work (McCorkle entry 755.23). Not in Nebenzahl, although several other maps from this atlas appear in the references. The map is cataloged in OCLC. . Very Good. Map.

Nuremberg: Homann Heirs, 1746. Very good, heavy paper, early color, dual hemisphere world map. This is rather decorative, with the four additional smaller polar spheric projections on the map, and two diagrams relating to the position of the sun. Each of the main hemispheric images is 27 cm in diameter, with the full image measuring 46 x 54 cm, on sheet measuring 52 x 62 cm. This is a strong impression, with the cartouches uncolored, as issued. Titles in Latin and French. Two extra printers creases in upper margin; very small portion of right lower corner missing (well outside platemark and neatline). Old 1 cm taped repair to verso of lower margin. Centerfold as issued. .

Paris: apud autorem and Aut. Boudet, 1752. Very good, early hand color, wide margins on laid paper. This is a rather decorative double hemisphere (eastern and western) image.Two watermarks visible verso. Two cartouches upper (title) and lower (notes) central map. The date on the map is 1752, but this is from an "Atlas Universel..." ca. 1757. An image of the map appears in the online David Rumsey Map Collection. Each hemisphere is 35 cm (13.75 inches) in diameter, on a sheet measuring 53 x 83 cm (21 x 32 5 inches), including margins. (Ref: Pedley. Belle et utile, p. 135, no.13.). Map.

A Paris: De l'imprimerie de Didot, 1758. This 10.5 inch quarto is in very good condition, sound hinges, 171 pp. with all 22 maps (several folding), plans and views in very good or better condition on heavy paper. Contemporary calf boards with original marbeled pastedowns, two title pages (one decorative with attribution to Bellin), "Tables des Titres" and "Table des Cartes, Plans et Vues." Six compartment, banded spine, with red, gilt title label.Triple (French), gilt fillets on front and rear boards. Bellin was the first chief hydrographic engineer of the French Hydrographic Office (see Tooley's Dictionary of Mapmakers, revised ed.). Ref: Beinecke, Lesser Antilles Collection, 215; Sabin 4553. This is an extremely nice copy.. First Edition. Full-Leather. Very Good.

Amsterdam: Schenk and Valk, 1708. Very good, minimal foxing, early color (with more recent enhancement) copperplate from this 1708 (original version published in 1660 by Jansson) Schenk/Valk issue of (Andreas Cellarius') "Harmonia Macrocosmica Seu Atlas Universalis Et Novus." The striking image measures 43 x 52 cm on a sheet 51 x 60 cm. Numerous cherubim surrond the circular view, as does an outer circle of a number of signs of the zodiac. There are a couple of pinhole defects, repaired verso, with no significant loss of imate. Ref: Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici, Cel.3..

Amsterdam: Schenk and Valk, 1708. Very good, minimal foxing, early color copperplate from this 1708 (original version published in 1660 by Jansson) Schenk/Valk issue of (Andreas Cellarius') "Harmonia Macrocosmica Seu Atlas Universalis Et Novus." The striking image measures 41 x 51 cm on a sheet 50 x 59 cm. Numerous cherubim surrond the eastern hemispheric view, which is also divided into frigid, termperate, tropical and torrid zones. There are separate armillary and habitat zonal spheres in the lower corners. Ref: Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici, Cel.3. There are bilateral, faint water-stains in the pink circular band surrounding the map image..

Hamburg: Fuchs, 1914. Very good, on thin paper, with original color, folds as issued (now flattened with some archival tape repair at folds on verso). Mild foxing most evident n lower margin. These maps, often ephemeral in nature, are now all increasingly scarce. Although the date on the map is 1870, it was published by Fuchs ("Verlag von Chs. Fuchs' lith. Inst. Hamburg" in lower right margin just outside neatline), and the text in the lower margin is in both German and French. The map image measures 24 x 38 cm. on a sheet 36 x 46 cm. There is a second title within the neatline: Carte drôlatique d'Europe pour 1870.. First Edition Thus.

Augusburg: Tobias Conrad Lotter and Albrecht Karl Seutter, 1756. Very good copperplate engraving with a right marginal tear not affecting image, repaired verso with archival tape. Some restoration to left margin (not affecting main image), and entire map backed with archival paper. Strong image. Small embossed stamp left lower margin (faint), with attribution to Seutter in left lower margin just below neatline. The date is approximate, and predicated on Lotter's partnership with Seutter from 1756-62. Earlier states appeared in a number of Seutter atlases. Ref: McCorkle, New England in Printed Maps, entry 730.4, p. 90. The image depicts an area from parts of Labrador to Nova Scotia. The map has outline and minimal wash color, with an elaborate, allegorical cartouche. Lotter was Seutter's son-in-law. The map image measures 58 x 50 cm..

Amsterdam: Visscher, Nicholas (Nicolaus), 1685. Very good, early color (perhaps some recent enhancement), few tiny worm holes, minor restoration at lower right (no image loss) and flattened center fold. Minmial browning margins. The date is approximate. Numerous biblical vignettes, some with Hebrew lettering. This was done for a Dutch bible, this one published by Visscher in Amsterday. Shirley's entry 457 is a similar map but without the Visscher imprint (and this issue does not have the tabular information in the lower central area. North America is labeled with "Japhet," and "Eden" is shown towards the cetner of the depiction of Asia. The vignettes are quite decorative. Moxon was a print and globe-maker, and he was the first tradesman to be elected to the Royal Society (online Dictionary of National Biography). The image measures 32 x 46 cm (18 x 12.5 inches), and has good margins..