Mapmaker:
Sold
Within Australia
All orders free shipping
Rest of the World
Orders over A$300 ship free worldwide
Full Title:
Date:
Mapmaker:
Condition:
Technique:
Image Size:
Paper Size:
Platemark Size:
Genuine antique
dated:
Description:
Important and rare large scale c.18th double hemisphere world map by Herman Moll, the most important mapmaker working in England at the time. The final state of this impressive map.
This map has an extremely complicated and confusing publishing history and is often listed with incorrect dating. Moll published the map initially as a separate map and later assembled in his atlas, The World Described of a New and Correct Sett of Maps…. The different editions of this world map are contained in a thorough analysis of Moll’s atlas by the firm of Henry Stevens, Son & Stiles in 1952 which listed all the individual states and noting the changes of ownership of the plate as shown on each individual map at the top right of the map. See below for further information regarding this issue.
The map is superbly decorated with a large title banner stretching across the top and an elaborate dedication to George I, featuring classical sea gods, merrmen and ships. The double hemispheres are surrounded by numerous detailed astronomical diagrams including: the planetary systems according to Ptolemy and Copernicus, the ‘appearance of the Sun according to Mr. Kirchner’ and the ‘Appearance of the Moon according to Mr Cassini‘. Extensive wind directions of the ‘General & Coasting Trade-Winds, Monsoons’, covers the area between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Moll includes the tracks of Dampier’s recent voyage around the world. Australia is named New Holland and includes the following historical discoveries: Hartogh 1616, Jacobs 1618, van Leeuwin 1622, Brookes Tryal 1622, Carstensz 1623, Nuyts 1627, De Wit 1628, Tasman 1642-1644, Dampier 1699. The Arctic and Antarctic are both labelled Parts Unknown, California is shown as an island and the land of Iesso is shown attached to Siberia. An interesting note at lower right, illustrates the absence of copyright laws and the intense competition in the 18th century map trade in London. Moll complains of the Dutch copying his charts ‘…we are labouring under y & frequent hardships, of having our Maps, Copy’d upon us in Holland &c. brought over hither, publickly advertised and sold under other names, to their profit and to ye manifest defrauding of us, as well in point of Reputation, as otherwise.’
This final state is identified by:
1. Printed for I.Bowles & Son. Map and Print Sellers, at the Black Horse in Cornhill & by T. Bowles Map & Print Seller next to y.e Chapter House in St. Pauls Church Yard (date erased) and by R. Sayer Map & Print Seller near St. Dunstans Church Fleet and by John King at ye. Glober in y.e Poultry.
2.Dedication at bottom, changed to; To His Most Sacred Majesty George by the Grace of God.
3. A crack in the plate along the equator off the west coast of Africa.
Robert Sayer whose imprint is found on the map was taken into partnership in 1748 by Mary Overton, who had been set up a separate business by her father, John in 1707, when he turned the family business over to Henry Overton. On Mary Overton’s retirement at the end of 1748, Sayer took over the business.
From Moll’s, The World Described of a New and Correct Sett of Maps…
References:
Bayton-Williams pp. 456-457, Wagner 513.
Moll was a Dutch emigre who came to London about 1680 following the Scanian Wars, he first worked as an engraver for Moses Pitt, later setting up his own business and becoming, after the turn of the century, the foremost map publisher in England. As his fame grew he became a well known figure at in the group of Intelligencia who gathered at Jonathon's Coffee House in Exchange Alley or Change Alley. This narrow alleyway connecting shops and coffeehouses in an old neighbourhood of the City of London, served as a convenient shortcut from the Royal Exchange on Cornhill to the Post Office on Lombard Street. Shops once located in Exchange Alley included ship chandlers, makers of navigation instruments such as telescopes, and goldsmiths from Lombardy in Italy. The coffee houses of Exchange Alley, especially Jonathan's and Garraway's, became an early venue for the lively trading of shares and commodities. Moll was able to obtain crucial information from the lively commercial and intellectual scene in the area. Moll was at the forefront of map making during his working life and his maps reflect his ever inquisitive nature.
$A 650
$A 225
Exchange rates are only indicative. All orders will be processed in Australian dollars. The actual amount charged may vary depending on the exchange rate and conversion fees applied by your credit card issuer.
Join our exclusive mailing list for first access to new acquisitions and special offers.
