Descripcion de las Indias del Poniente (14)

Description

copper engraving.

EXTREMELY RARE map from “Descripcion de las Islas occidentales, Historia General, da. 314, Second Edition. The first edition published in 1601 in Madrid; Herrera (1559-1625), a writer & official historian to the King of Spain, compiled a history of the Indies accompanied by maps of the West Indies & Central & South America. The first edition was re-issued in several editions & languages, the most important of which were in 1622. On this map, Luzon is not shown as an island, only as an outline; other Philippine islands are named, including his own “creation” : San Juan (St. John), the imaginary island to become so “notorious” in future maps till even the 19th century.