Johann Baptist Homann
Southern United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, 1720 c.
19.0 x 22.0
USA9837
Southern United States, Mexico and the West Indies with several striking vignettes. At that time, the map shows French Louisiana, New Spain or Mexico and Spanish Florida. Geographically, the map...
Southern United States, Mexico and the West Indies with several striking vignettes.
At that time, the map shows French Louisiana, New Spain or Mexico and Spanish Florida. Geographically, the map is based on a map by Guillaume de L'Isle first issued in 1703, which was one of the earliest maps to lay a cartographic claim onto the interior of North America by France. It linked the newly named "Ludoviciana", the Latin version of Louisiana with French possession in Canada or New France. English possessions are given a fairly narrow strip along the east coast while while most of Central America and part of Mexico are entitled as New Spain. There is a distinct division between New Spain and New Mexico, probably for Spanish administrative purposes.
The map focuses on the larger islands of the Caribbean, mainly Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica and Puerto Rico as well as the Bahamas. The map also marks the route of the Spanish Silver Fleet or the convoy route followed by Spanish ships travelling from the New World to Europe.
Homann has added several large vignettes not present on the original de L'Isle map. The main one of these is a mining scene on the upper right, a reference to the famous Mexican silver mines situated in Zacatecas and Taxco.
Another large vignette on the lower left shows a ship and a sea battle, no doubt a reference to the many raids and battles that took place in the Caribbean initiated by pirates and privateers. This is one of the most appealing and decorative maps of the region. Original colour. [USA9837]
At that time, the map shows French Louisiana, New Spain or Mexico and Spanish Florida. Geographically, the map is based on a map by Guillaume de L'Isle first issued in 1703, which was one of the earliest maps to lay a cartographic claim onto the interior of North America by France. It linked the newly named "Ludoviciana", the Latin version of Louisiana with French possession in Canada or New France. English possessions are given a fairly narrow strip along the east coast while while most of Central America and part of Mexico are entitled as New Spain. There is a distinct division between New Spain and New Mexico, probably for Spanish administrative purposes.
The map focuses on the larger islands of the Caribbean, mainly Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica and Puerto Rico as well as the Bahamas. The map also marks the route of the Spanish Silver Fleet or the convoy route followed by Spanish ships travelling from the New World to Europe.
Homann has added several large vignettes not present on the original de L'Isle map. The main one of these is a mining scene on the upper right, a reference to the famous Mexican silver mines situated in Zacatecas and Taxco.
Another large vignette on the lower left shows a ship and a sea battle, no doubt a reference to the many raids and battles that took place in the Caribbean initiated by pirates and privateers. This is one of the most appealing and decorative maps of the region. Original colour. [USA9837]
