Acquired From: Gowrie Galleries
Colouring: Uncoloured
Condition: Very Good
Confirmed: No
Dealers ID No.: M104 (STK 759.01)
Description: This finely engraved map of the Pacific Ocean by Vincenzo Coronelli appeared in the first edition of his Atlante Veneto published in Venice in 1691.It presents a sweeping view of the Pacific, framed by the western coasts of the Americasextending south to Tierra del Fuegoand the eastern margins of Asia, including Tartary, Japan, and New Guinea. A tentative outline of Van Diemens Land (modern-day Tasmania) is shown to the south, while New Zealand appears partially charted and erroneously joined to an undefined southern continent labelled "unknown," reflecting contemporary uncertainties regarding the southern Pacific.nThe map includes many of the major islands of the Pacific and a prominent Terra de Iesso in the north, a vestige of lingering misconceptions about the geography of northeastern Asia and the North Pacific. An inscription off the coast of South America records prevailing wind directions and oceanic distances, offering practical information for navigation and long-distance trade.nA notable feature is the elaborate title cartouche in the form of a giant clam shell, positioned in the upper-right corner. The upper section contains the maps title, while the lower portion is richly ornamented with coral, pearls, and marine flora. Three putti with mermaid-like tails surround the shell: one brandishes a shield with a double-headed eagle, while the others appear to prise the shell open. The imagery evokes the Pacific as a realm of riches and discovery, echoing the ambitions of European empires.nCoronellis Mare del Sud embodies the dual nature of late seventeenth-century cartography: combining recent advances in maritime exploration with persistent elements of speculation and allegory. Issued as part of Coronellis Atlante Venetoa multi-volume geographical compendium published between 1691 and 1696 and conceived to rival Joan Blaeus Atlas Maiorthe map exemplifies Venices aspiration to assert itself as a major centre of scientific cartography.
First published: Atlante Veneto, Venice: Vincenzo Coronelli, 1691-1996
Mapmaker: Coronelli, Vincenzo (1650-1718)
Notes: Purchase details
Primary Category: Sea Charts
Purchase Reference: Insurance Ledger June 2015
Rarity: R2 Very rare – one or two copies appear on the market
Technique: Copper Engraving
This state: 1691
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