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Striking early mapping of the Strait of Magellan, pre-dating the discovery of the Straits of Le Maire in 1616.

The map is the first depiction of the Strait of Magellan in a commercially published atlas. It stands out as one of the few sea chart style maps to appear in the Mercator-Hondius Atlas, showcasing the influence of Lucas Waghenaer's recently published sea charts, complete with a picturesque profile view and navigational soundings.

Oriented with the south on top, the map features a grand compass rose and three lavishly decorated strapwork cartouches. One of these displays a profile view of the entrance to the Strait, emulating the style of Waghenaer and the Dutch Rutter books from the late 16th century. The elaborate compass rose points towards the bottom, symbolizing north.

The map includes illustrations of six sailing vessels in the Pacific Ocean, various terrestrial and marine creatures, with the Southern Land being identified as Tierra Del Fuego. Within the Strait, it denotes about 20 geographical locations and 30 to 40 soundings. Navigation lines, or rhumb lines, radiate from the compass rose.

The map intriguingly transitions from the known coastline of Tierra del Fuego into speculative territories, slowly dissolving into an unexplored southern continent. This map holds a position of immense interest and charm among all regional American maps, marking a significant era in the exploration and discovery of the Americas and the maritime pathways between the Atlantic and Pacific. This historical artifact predates the discovery of Cape Horn in 1616. 

Historically, the Strait of Magellan, named after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan, was a significant discovery for its time. Its discovery in 1520 during the Spanish expedition marked the first known navigable route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. For more than a century, it served as the most important natural passage between the two oceans, until the discovery of Cape Horn provided a more accessible route in 1616.