Decorative early 18th Century world map shown on an unusual polar projection, using shading to illustrate the parts of the world following the Catholic faith and areas that are "devoid of the religion".


Heinrich Scherer was a Professor of Mathematics and a Jesuit in Munich. Between 1702-10, he produced his Atlas Novus in seven parts. The maps within celebrate the spread of the Christian Faith throughout the world. They are beautifully engraved and highly illustrated, often with religious figures and events, very much in the baroque style which was so prevalent at the time.


Geographically, the coastlines of the Arctic and Pacific Northwest are unfinished in places, as explorers search for a trade route to the East. California is depicted here as an island - Jesuit missionary Eusebio Francisco Kino would discover that the land was infact a peninsula during his explorations in Baja during the Atondo Expedition (1683-1685).


Australia (here "Nova Hollandia") is shown with a very unusual coastline and unfinished from the Gulf of Carpentaria. and an early outline of New Zealand ("Nova Zelandia") appears to its east.


The map also shows religious iconography and two verse from the Gospel of Matthew (New Testament), as well as illustrations of sea monsters and a hunting scene.


Coloured. [Shirley "The Mapping of the World": 628] [WLD1923]