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Description

A highly unusual map of North America, published in Venice by Antonio Zatta.

The map shows what is unquestionably the largest mis-projection of Alaska and the Straits of Anian we have ever seen.

Coming after Cook, La Perouse, Vancouver and the various Russian explorers in the second half of the 18th Century, the map defies explanation.

Rarity

This is the first time we have seen this map.

Condition Description
Minor soiling.
Antonio Zatta Biography

Antonio Zatta (fl. 1757-1797) was a prominent Italian editor, cartographer, and publisher. Little is known about his life beyond his many surviving published works. It is possible that he was born as early as 1722 and lived as late as 1804. He lived in Venice and his work flourished between 1757 and 1797. He is best known for his atlas, Atlante Novissimo (1779-1785), and for his prolific output of prints and books that were both precisely made and aesthetically pleasing. Zatta clearly had a large network from which to draw information; this is how he was able to publish the first glimpse of the islands visited by Captain Cook in the Atlante Novissimo. Zatta also published books of plays and architecture.