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Rare map of the World from Ephraim Pagitt's Christianographie, or the Description . . . of the Christian World, not subject to the Pope, first published in London in 1635.
Pagitt's book is illustrated with 5 maps, of which the map is included. Shirley notes:
On stylistic and geographic ground the engraving of this oval world map with a circular surround of strapwork can be dated c. 1600, or perhaps earlier. There is no identifying author or engraver and on all extent copies later insertions have been made . . .
Copies of the map, often with the top and bottom parts of the plate masked, may accompanythe Protestant Tract Christianographie . . .
The geogrpaphy is reminiscent of similar maps published by Hondius. The map is likely based upon an earlier original, dated circa 1600, but with additions including New England, Davis Strait, Holanders (in Brazil), etc. which would have been added after 1630. Marvelous treatment of the unknown southern continent, Anian River, Quivera Re. and a host of other early references. One unusual feature is the alternative name given near the Straits of Magellan, Fretum Magellenicum (as usual) and C. de Virgin Maria, apparently a variant for Magellan's original name for the Cape at the head of the Straits (Cabo Virgenes).
In Asia, Korea is a long narrow island. The Philippines and Luzon (Luconia) are named. A massive Terra Australis Incognita includes Beach and Lucach Regnum, and place names surviving from Marco Polo's account of his travels in the 14th Century. In the Western Hemisphere, early hints of Nova Guinea and contiguous land masses appear.
The world map is rare on the market, with no examples appearing in AMPR.
![Opusculum Geographicum Rarum [with map:] Universalis Orbis Descriptio, Cogimur e Tabula Pictos Ediscere Mundos.](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/95970.jpg)