[America, Europe, Asia, and Africa]

An elaborate overview of five continents from the early 18th century.

This gorgeous collection of 4 copperplate engraved maps were originally designed by Johann Baptiste Homann in the first two decades of the 18th century. These examples were issued later, around 1745, after Homann’s death and the inheritance of the firm by his son and his successors, eventually known as the Homann Heirs. Each decorative sheet bears attractive hand color and an elaborate title cartouche flanked by local inhabitants. Five continents – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America are outlined and presented according to contemporary Western perceptions regarding geography, politics, and science during the Age of Enlightenment.

Totiue Americae Septentrionalis et Meridionalis – Scattered soiling and spotting visible around the margins and within the image in the lower right corner. This lovely map of the Western Hemisphere includes the coast of Africa and Europe, as well as numerous islands in the Pacific. North America depicts the most interesting configuration, with grossly distorted Great Lakes, the golden city of Quivira, mythical rivers in the West, and a gigantic Terra Esonis Incognita in much of eastern Canada. One notable update from the first state is the correction of California from an island to a peninsula. A fascinating variety of toponyms reflect centuries of European colonization.

Africa Secundum legitimas Projectionis Stereographica regulas – Some discoloration from the plate line in the margins, but overall in very good condition. This tremendous overview of Africa uses hand-color to sub-divide the continent into European-style kingdoms and empires. Large blank spaces in the interior reflect ignorance of local geography. Other geographic features, tribes, place names reflect ancient information provided by the 2nd-century Greek scholar Ptolemy – even down to the anthropophagorum (man-eaters) in central Africa. Also of interest is the decorative title cartouche featuring European traders bargaining with local chieftains.

Asia Secundum legitiams Projectionis Stereographicae regulas et juxta – Soiling in the margins and some errant green ink in the lower right corner. This fascinating depiction of Asia is based largely on the information provided by Jesuit missionaries and European traders. The dense image is packed with toponyms identifying local villages, geographic features, temples, political groups, and more. Topography is depicted pictorially and unknown coastlines are shown intentionally vague. Notable examples include the eastern edge of New Guinea, the border of Hokkaido (still connected to the mainland), and much of Siberia. Numerous distance scales reflect the multiplicity of cultures that inhabit the continent.

Europa Secundum legitimas Projectionis Stereographic regulas et juxta – Light wear along the vertical centerfold, but overall in very good condition. This decorative map offers a sweeping view of the Old World between the Straits of Gibraltar and the Aral Sea. Major kingdoms are outlined in delicate hand-color, with most of the eastern regions dominated by the rapidly expanding Russian Empire. Around the time of publication, rival imperial ambitions between the Hapsburgs and much of the rest of Europe led to the outbreak of the War of Austrian Succession, and ultimately, the Seven Years’ War. The title cartouche, somewhat different from the others, reflects feelings of European superiority and regal supremacy.