Antiques for Sale > Prints and Maps

M-12215: (Image: 19 x 22 3/8'') ''NOVA ANGLIA Septentrionali Americae implantata Anglorumque coloniis florentissima'' Nuremberg: Johann Baptist Homann, c. 1724. Fine engraved 18^th century map with original hand-coloring (cartouche and border later hand-coloring).  Closed tear upper margin (by number 308). Ref: Goss The Mapping of North America, Map 50 - illustrated; E. Van Ermen, The United States in Old Maps & Prints, Map 25 - illustrated.

This handsome and unusual map depicts present-day New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Considered ''the finest American map produced by Homann. Very attractive from the artistic point of view, its geography is excellent along the coastline'' (Nebenzahl, The Compass, No. 7, map 23).  Numerous soundings & navigation hazards are noted along the coastlines.

Much of the other topographical detail is pure fantasy.  Lake Champlain is over-sized and shown with its broad channel draining northwards into the St. Lawrence. Most interesting is the strait cutting across Cape Cod near Eastham. Numerous accounts & maps issued during the late 17^th and early 18^th Century indicated that a water passage dissected Cape Cod. Lake Champlain is shown in a much larger than accurate configuration, with a number of other mythical lakes in New York. The fictitious region of Norumbeag is placed in present-day Maine at the head of Penebrock Bay. East and West New Jarsey are shown. The cartouche depicts a European sea captain bartering with an Indian Chief.