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Arias Monanus map of the World c.1660

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Title: Benedict Arias Montanus Sacrae Geographiae Tabulam ex Antiquissimorum Cultor. Familii a Mose Recensiti ...
Author: Arias Montanus, Benedictus
Description: Copper-engraved map. 31x51.5 cm. (12x20¼").Rare English variant of the Arias Montanus map of the world first issued in his 8-volume polyglot Bible, published in Antwerp between 1569 and 1572. It was one of the most decorative and recognizable maps of the 16th century, intended to show the distribution of the Tribes of Israel throughout the world, demonstrating the re-population of the world by the descendents of Noah following the Flood. Montanus depicted a land bridge between Asia and the Northwest Coast of America, and postulated that Ophir had migrated from Asia to America across it. One of the curious features of the map is the depiction of a large landmass in the position of Australia, which can be argued as one of the earliest depictions of Australia on a map, but it is most likely a distortion of Terra Australis Incognita. The map is largely identical to the original, with the six windheads, sea monsters, ships, etc., though the hachuring is changed. The present issue of the map is from Critici Sacri, sive doctissimorum virorum in SS. Biblia annotationes & tractatus, a 9-volume compliation of biblical scholarship published in London, various editions appearing between 1660 and 1690. Shirley 125 (1572 issue).
Heading: zzgPlace Published: London
Publisher:
Date Published: 1572-[c.1660-90]