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This hemispheric projection focuses on the Western Hemisphere, with a meticulous grid of latitude and longitude, marked relative to the Paris meridian, which was widely used prior to the adoption of Greenwich as the prime meridian.
The map captures the geographical and political boundaries of the Americas, including the continental divisions, detailed coastlines, and major river systems such as the Mississippi, Amazon, and Paraná. Noteworthy is the inclusion of ocean currents, such as the "Nordäquatorialströmung" (North Equatorial Current) and the "Ostl. Auslauf des Japanischen Küstenstroms" (Eastern extension of the Japanese Coastal Current), which reflect contemporary scientific knowledge of maritime geography and climatic patterns.
The map employs a nuanced color-coding system to indicate political and cultural divisions. The legend at the bottom classifies territories into possessions of European states (e.g., British, French, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, and Russian) and delineates areas by European ancestry in the Americas (e.g., Anglo-Germanic, Spanish, and Portuguese descent).
Published in 1874, the map reflects a period of geopolitical transformation in the Western Hemisphere. It illustrates the consolidation of nation-states in South and Central America following the independence movements of the early 19th century. North America is shown with defined borders for the United States, Canada, and Mexico, though some areas, such as British Columbia and Alaska (acquired by the United States in 1867), are depicted in ways that acknowledge European influences. Notably, the depiction of oceanic currents and island chains throughout the Pacific highlights the growing importance of global navigation, trade, and the scientific study of the world's oceans during this period.
![Il Globo in Prospettiva [The Globe in Perspective]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/88400.jpg)
![[ The Rarest State ] Americae Sive Novi Orbis Nova Descriptio](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/71113.jpg)
