Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula

Merian's map was issued in his "Topographiae Germania" which he published in 21 volumes between 1642 and the mid 1660s. Geographically, it was based directly on one of the most famous Dutch maps of the world by Willem Blaeu, first issued in 1606. Notable geographical features include the portrayal of Korea as an island, the size of North America, a feature of early maps due to the vagaries of the Mercator Projection, a huge Southern Continent entitled "Magallanica" and two insets of the North and South Pole in the lower corners.



Despite notable geographical advances made in the 1620s, Merian chooses to emulate his source map with little correction or updates, thus maintaining the archipelago on the north eastern coast of America, placing the legendary Portuguese discovery of "Terra Corterealis" on the same island as the "Terra de Labrador" and not showing Hudson's Bay. The mythical islands of Brazil and Friesland are still clearly marked in the north Atlantic. More presciently, he also does not separate the peninsula of California from the mainland.



One innovation is Merian's use of his own native language, German as well as Latin on the map. This is in fine Gothic script, exemplified by the title which is printed in both languages and several lines of text which describe the discovery of America and its exploration by both Columbus in 1492 and Vespucci in 1499.



Although not as elaborately decorated as Blaeu's map, it still bears several ships and sea monsters. Merian is also careful to prominently mark the tropics, the Equator, the North and South Polar Circles and a thick line in the middle of the map marking the prime Meridian at the Azores, following Mercator.

[Shirley 345] [WLD4860]