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Matthias Quad: Polus Arcticus sive Tract. Septentrionalis. Coloniae, ex Officina Typographica Jani Bussemechers
Title: Polus Arcticus sive Tract. Septentrionalis. Coloniae, ex Officina Typographica Jani Bussemechers Map Maker: Matthias Quad
Description: Important early map of the North Polar regions, based upon Mercator's map of 1595. Quad's map is a reduced version of Mercator's landmark map of the Arctic from 1595. The North Pole is shown according to legend as a large rock in a giant whirlpool and surrounded by four islands that are separated by rivers. The magnetic north is depicted as a separate island rock just outside the polar mass. In North America is an very early reference to California (California regio, sola fama Hispanis nota), curiously shown north of the El streto de Anian. The map depicts the attempts of Frobisher and Davis to locate the northern passages to Asia. The map image is surrounded by a floral design with four roundels in each corner. These contain the title, the Faeroe Isles, the Shetland Isles, and the mythical island of Frisland. References: Burden, P.D. 134; Meurer, P.H. (Cologne) Qua 79.
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