A SCARCE BEAUTIFULLY COLOURED WORLD MAP CALIFORNIA AS AN ISLAND BY JOHN SENEX 1721

A NEW MAP OF THE WORLD FROM THE LATEST OBSERVATIONS REVIS'D BY I SENEX

£2850

Scarce and beautifully coloured World map by John Senex.

This is one of the earliest English double hemispheric world maps. From the "New General Atlas", 1721. Interesting feature of the map are the faint lines displaying earlier knowledge of the various continents whereabouts. This shows up the advances in cartography that had been made to date and enhances the perceived accuracy of Senex's map. Despite this however Senex still displays the idea that California is an island. The Mississippi River is also placed too far to the west.

The title cartouche is surrounded by allegorical figures representing the four continents.The figure of Europe as a land of abundance and mapping the world.. Africa is depicted as wearing an elephant headdress and holding a desert scorpion. Asia a religious figure with a censer and a balsam branch. America is shown as an Amazonian woman with a headdress and a bow.

At the bottom of the map to the right of an Armillary sphere is the figure of Hercules wearing a lion skin and holding a wooden club; on the left of the sphere is the figure of Hermes.

It is dedicated to the Prince of Wales, later to become King George II.

John Senex (c.1678-d.1740) was geographer to Queen Anne and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He began his career as a book seller later becoming an engraver and publisher. In 1714 he published the large folio "English Atlas" which was followed by the folio "New General Atlas" of 1721.

The proposal for the atlas was advertised in the "London Gazette" for 14-18 October 1718, announcing its publication "shall be finished by Easter Term next". It did not appear until 1721. It is one of the earliest of all English world atlases.

Superb hand colour

Map is a a good strong impression with wide margins and in mint condition.

REF Sanderson no. 434; Shirley, R.W. (BL Atlases) T.SEN-2a, #1.