1610 Exquisita & magno aliquot...

Exquisita & magno aliquot mensium peridulo histrata et iam retecta Freti Magellanici Facies. By: Gerard Mercator Date: 1610 (circa) Amsterdam Dimensions: 13.75 x 18.5 inches  (34.9 x 47 cm) This map of the Straits of Magellan by Gerard Mercator is the earliest to appear in a commercial atlas, and predates the discovery of the Straits of Le Maire by six years. Jacob Le Maire and Willem Schouten discovered the strait in 1616, while seeking a navigable link between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and shortly before their discovery of Cape Horn. The strait was subsequently named in honor of Le Maire. The map is oriented with south at the top, and depicts the narrow Straits with land masses on either side. Within the Strait approximately 20 place names are identified, along with 30-40 soundings. The southern land mass is called Terra del Fuego, and the opposite is identified as Americae pars. In addition to six sailing ships and a splendid sea creature, there is a vignette of what appe