$780
North Pole. Frederick de Wit (1610-1698) Poli Arctici, et Circumiacentium Terrarum Descriptio Novissima . Amsterdam, [c. 1670]. Double-page folio, copper engraving, with contemporary colored shading around the land masses, and gold highlights to the cartouches; the map area is circular, and surrounded by four scenes of arctic whaling, walrus hunting, and blubber processing, these vignettes with no added color; evenly toned, slightly rumpled, damp stains to lower blank margin, old folds, small internal tear one inch from the center of the map; framed, not examined outside of the frame, glass cracked in lower right corner, 19 x 21 in. Arctic exploration and cartography were in a state of active development during the 17th century. This map includes several uncharted areas, as explorers continued to actively seek a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean. It would take another 250 years of arctic exploration before such a journey was successfully completed.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2013-06-01
