Exquisitia & Mago aliquot mensium periculoa iutrata et

The first commercially published map of the Strait of Magellan.

Oriented with north at the top, this map of the Strait of Magellan is one of the first that appeared in a commercially published European atlas of the 17th century. Though the famed explorer discovered the route in 1520, its knowledge was kept as a state secret by the Spanish crown and not made generally available until much later.

The hazardous path between the Atlantic and the Pacific is noted between the southern tip of Chile and Tierra del Fuego in Antarctica. Numerous depth soundings and toponyms provide data and information captured by Magellan and his crew, though the incomplete coastal outlines show some level of speculation and geographic uncertainty. A decorative cartouche contains a profile view of the coastline, while two others contain the title and distance scale.

Sea monsters and local fauna, including penguins and seals, are shown in addition to a number of sailing ships. It’s possible the ship on the left side was meant to represent the San Antonio, who deserted the rest of the fleet prior to entering the Strait. Though Magellan wouldn’t survive the first successful circumnavigation of the world, his contributions to global exploration were impactful and evident in this desirable map.