Johannes de Laet, 1633

LAET, Johannes de (1593-1649). Novus orbis, seu descriptionis Indiae occidentalis. Leiden: Elzevir, 1633.

First edition in Latin. "It is arguably the finest description of the Americas published in the seventeenth century" (Burden). This edition, following on from the enlarged second edition of 1630, contains 14 maps in total, comprising a general map of the Americas and other American regional maps. The "Nova Anglia" map, showing the coast and inland areas from Nova Scotia to North Carolina, is the first printed map to mention the name Manhattan, here spelled "Manbattes." "It is also the earliest to use the Dutch names of Noordt Rivier and Zuyd Rivier, for the Hudson and Delaware Rivers respectively, as well as the Indian Massachusets, for the new English colony ... [the 'Nova Francia’ map] is one of the foundation maps of Canada" (ibid). Many of the maps served as prototypes for later Dutch maps of the region. Borba de Moraes p. 451; Burden 229-232; Sabin 38557.

Folio (340 x 220mm). Half-title, engraved architectural title, 14 engraved double-page maps by Hessel Gerritsz, numerous woodcut illustrations of plants, animals and inhabitants of the New World in text (browning). Contemporary cat's paw calf gilt, spine gilt in compartments (rebacked with original spine laid down).