Africae nova Tabula. First State (c.1606) with contemporary hand colour. Africa Map, 1606 original

This is the original large size first state of the celebrated Hondius map. It measures about 62cm by 49 cm within the clearly visible indent. Margins extend just beyond the indent. Contemporary hand colour, well-executed, enhances the map considerably. The twelve town vignettes top and bottom, which were removed from later states of the map, all have clearly legible names, as do the ten vignettes of the figures on the margins left and right. The paper has been stabilized and de-acidified and the map has been removed from most of its original thick card backing, such that paper again has some flexibility. The map has been carefully restored such that there is no loss of all the fantastic detail: seven ships, monsters, flying fish, animals Neptune, etc. The paper is browned in some areas and there are signs of repair of closed tears and rubbed areas. Seller Inventory # 80054