SEUTTER, Matthäus (1678-1757)

Novus Orbis sive America Meridionalis et Septentrionalis

Augsburg: circa 1730. Copper-engraved map, with original colour. Sheet size: 20 3/4 x 22 7/8 inches.

A striking map of the Americas by one of the great eighteenth-century German cartographers.

The present map offers a richly detailed portrayal of the Americas in the early 18th century and is embellished with the artistry of Seutters elaborate cartouches. These vibrant, symbolic scenes frame the map and reflect European conceptions of the New World. The title cartouche, bursting with imagery of exotic birds, flying fish, and an indigenous chief shaded by an umbrella, highlights the wonder and abundance Europeans associated with the Americas. Another cartouche, located in the upper left, depicts European explorers seated at a table while indigenous people kneel before a crucifix and offer riches, visually communicating themes of colonization and religious conversion. The map itself presents a combination of real and mythical geography, including a dramatically misplaced California depicted as an island, a common cartographic misconception of the time. To the north, the mysterious Strait of Anian hints at the elusive Northwest Passage, a long-sought sea route linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The interior of North America is largely blank, reflecting the limits of European exploration at the time, though names of indigenous groups and geographical features populate other regions. In South America, the map emphasizes voyages such as Magellans circumnavigation and other exploratory routes. Seutter was a prominent German cartographer in the early eighteenth century. Born in Augsburg, Seutter learned the mapmaking trade under the tutelage of Johann Baptist Homann, the foremost map publisher in Nuremberg at the time. By 1707, Seutter had established his own map publishing business in Augsburg, positioning himself as Homann's main rival. In recognition of his contributions to cartography, Seutter was appointed Geographer to the Imperial Court in 1715.

Tooley & Bricker, Landmarks of Mapmaking, p. 167-170; Wheat, Mapping the Transmississippi, vol I, 148, 235.

Item #41885

Price: $1,800.00