A New Mapp of the Whole World.: The Chinesian Ocean"
by OVERTON, Henry
- Used
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
London, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
London,: Henry Overton,, 1738.. 1498 by 1600mm. (59 by 63 inches).. Engraved map on four sheets, with fine original hand-colour. Henry Overton (1676-1751) was a publisher and mapseller who followed in the footsteps of his father, John Overton, when he took over his shop and stock in 1707. Over the course of his career he published a large number of maps, as well as numerous views, portraits and sporting prints. Overton's maps were largely focused on the British Isles, and he also produced revised and updated editions of John Speed's country atlas. One of his most visually striking and rarest works, however, is 'A New Mapp of the World by Henry Overton'. The map describes the world in two hemispheres, with two smaller pairs of hemispheres above and below, showing the heavens and the polar regions respectively. This design reflects the world maps published by Gerard Valk at the end of the seventeenth century, but Overton's geographical configuration is notably less sophisticated, corresponding more closely to the maps of the 1660s. There are significant and anachronistic omissions and errors: the Great Lakes form an open-ended inland sea; New Guinea fails to appear; the Straits of Anian are shown to the north-west of California. Such are the inaccuracies on the map that Shirley has suggested that "it is possible that an earlier unrecorded four-sheet map has been re-issued perhaps within a new frame-under Overton's imprint". Another interesting cartographic feature is that the Pacific is labelled "The Chinesian Ocean". The equator, ecliptic, tropics, Arctic and Antarctic circles are all indicated, and there are 11 compass roses across the map. The polar projections below the main image offer another perspective of the northern and southern hemispheres, although the latter lacks any land mass around the south pole. Above, the celestial map depicts the Ptolemaic constellations as mythical figures and sigils. The decorative features that surround the three pairs of hemispheres demonstrate that this map was intended to be just as ornamental as it is informative, if not more! Boldly coloured vignettes show allegorical and mythological scenes in an idyllic pastoral setting. Putti gather sheaths of corn and offer grapes to a tipsy Bacchus, while another pair of divine figures recline on the clouds above. Surrounding the entire image are elaborate floral borders in the sumptuous baroque style typical of the Hanoverian period. The only other recorded example of Overton's world map is in the keeping of the British Library. The imprint on the BL copy is torn and illegible, and as a result, the map has previously been dated to c1700. The imprint on the present example, however, clearly shows that it was published in 1738 and sold from Overton's premises in Newgate. Shirley 623.
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Details
- Bookseller
- Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd (GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 15959
- Title
- A New Mapp of the Whole World.
- Author
- OVERTON, Henry
- Book Condition
- Used
- Publisher
- Henry Overton,
- Place of Publication
- London,
- Date Published
- 1738.
- Keywords
- Overton, world, map
- Product_type
- Maps
- Size
- 1498 by 1600mm. (59 by 63 inches).
Terms of Sale
Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd
Any item may be returned if you are not happy with it providing we are notified within 7 days of your receiving it. This does not affect any statutory rights you may have under UK or EU law for returning the item outside this period. All we ask is that you return the item(s) by the same or similar method to that in which they were sent to you. Your postage costs and any payment already received will be refunded immediately on our receipt of the items in the same condition as you received them.
About the Seller
Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd
Biblio member since 2018
London
About Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd
Daniel Crouch Rare Books is specialist dealer in antique atlases, maps, plans, sea charts and voyages dating from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Our carefully selected stock also includes a number of fine prints and globes, and a selection of cartographic reference books.Our particular passions include rare atlases, wall maps, and separately published maps and charts. We strive to acquire unusual and quirky maps that are in fine condition. We are members of the following trade associations: The Antiquarian Bookseller's Association (ABA); The British Antique Dealers' Association (BADA); Confédération Internationale des Négociantes en Oeuvres d'Art (CINOA); The International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB); The Society of London Art Dealers (SLAD); and The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF). Daniel and Nick are also both members of The Company of Art Scholars, Dealers, and Collectors.
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