America

Attractive map of the Western Hemisphere showing the island of California and a theorized Northwest Passage. Published in the Cluver's Introductio in Universam Geographium, a popular work for 17th-century students of geography. 

First published in Leiden in 1624, Cluver's popular geographical history describes all the countries of the world, including a section on America and the islands of the ‘New World’, and is fully illustrated with engraved maps. The text includes notes by Johann Buno, Johann Friedrich Heckel and Johann Reiske from earlier editions of the work.

Philipp Clüver (also known as Klüwer, Cluwer or Cluvier, or by the Latinised names Philippus Cluverius and Philippi Cluverii) was an early modern German geographer and historian who made significant contributions to the field of historical geography.  Clüver was renowned as an antiquarian and geographer and became known for his general study of the geography of antiquity. His approach combined classical literary sources with empirical knowledge from his extensive travels and local inspections, laying the foundation for the field of historical geography. Clüver is also known for his contributions to mathematical and theological writings and is remembered by cartography enthusiasts for his edition of Ptolemy's Geographia and his miniature atlases.

Example taken from Introductionis in universam geographiam tam veterem quam novam libri VI. Cum integris Johannis Bunonis, Joh. Frid. Hekelii & Joh. Reiskii, & selectis Londinensibus notis. Amsterdam: Johannes Pauli, 1729.

Etching with fine later hand colour, very good condition.