Provinciae Borealis Americae non ita pridem detectae aut magis ab Europaeis excultae

Decorative map of North America by Heinrich Scherer for his Atlas Novus exhibens orbem terraguem per naturae opera, historiae navae acveterus monumenta, artistique geographicae leges et praecepta...published in eight volumes from 1702-1710 in Munich. Scherer, a devout Jesuit, produced this geographical compendium to depict the Catholic hierarchy and the spread of Jesuit missions throughout the world.

The map is filled with towns and pictorial representations of the mountainous topography. 

This captivating map of North America features a huge island of California, an oversized depiction of the Great Lakes, and a misplaced Mississippi River delta. The interior is packed with a helter-skelter arrangement of mountains, rivers and lakes. There is a hint of the Northwest Passage hidden by the title cartouche. The mythical cities of Cibola are located north of Santa Fe. The large vignette at bottom right depicts three explorers - French, Spanish and English - each displaying a map of their respective possessions in North America to subjugated natives. Other ornaments include the ships of these colonial powers, a title cartouche, and sea monsters.

Copper engraving, in very good condition.

References: McLaughlin #160;Tooley (Amer) p.131, #86.