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Description

Finely embellished map of the Eastern Hemisphere, published by Casper Dankwerth in the Newe Landesbeschreibung der zweij Hertzogthuemer Schleswig und Holstein.

This fine map of the old world appeared in Dankwerth's Atlas of Schleswig-Holstein, published in 1652, in collaboration with Danish cartographer Johann Mejer. Engraver Christian Rothgiesse. The map is richly adorned with cherubs, fruit, garlands, and gardens.

The map depicts the ancient form of the continents as the sons of Noah: Japheth, Shem and Cham. A massive Terra Australis Incognita Veteribus Prorsus, appears in the Southern part of the Hemisphere. The North Pole takes the shape of four major and multiple small islands, as illustrated by Mercator.

An unknown Korea is depicted as an island, with an early primitive configuration for Japan's principal islands.

Johann Mejer (1606-1674), was a royal mathematician, astronomer and cartographer, from Husum (then part of Denmark). His main focus was on the exact measurement of The Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, which he recorded in detail between 1638-1648, on the behalf of the king. The resulting maps were published in 1652, in 39 comprehensive maps and 52 town plans. Although Johann Mejer was largely unknown to his contemporaries, he has become considered as one of the most important Danish cartographers of his time. His first-class work served as a model for all maps of Schleswig and Holstein, until the end of the 18th Century. Mejer would later sell the copper plates to the Blaeu firm, in 1657 and the maps would later appear in Blaeu's Atlas Maior.

Condition Description
Two minor fold splits