ORIGINAL ENGRAVED "A MAP OF THE NORTH-POLE AND THE PARTS ADJOINING

Oxford, 1680. Engraved and vibrantly hand-colored map measures 23 in. x 18 in. Frame measures ~26,25 in. x 24.75 in.. Map in Good condition overall with mild age toning, thin bands of discoloration down the midline and at the map's upper right corner. Mild soiling visible in margins. Small closed tear (repaired) along midline (see final photograph). Remnants of adhesive along top edge. Map not examined out of frame. EL Consignment. Shelved in Rockville Room B. Moses Pitt initially set out to produce an expanded edition of Jansson's Atlas Maior, with his partner Jacob Van Waesberg. Unfortunately, after production of several volumes, the project failed and Pitt landed in debtor's prison. While most of the maps produced for the atlas are re-issues of earlier Dutch maps, Pitt's map of the North Pole, dedicated to the Right Honorable Charles FitzCharles, Earle of Plymouth, is an original production. The two vignettes show Inuit spear fishing and a European Whaling expedition. An inset map with annotations shows the most recent knowledge concerning Nova Zembla, based upon Russian, German and Dutch sources. The map's nomenclature is in English and clearly shows both a Northwest Pasage and a Northeast Passage. 1393299. Special Collections. (Inventory #: 1393299)