A scarce double-hemisphere map of the world on a polar projction

A fine double-hemisphere world map, unusually centred on the two poles. In the Northern Hemisphere California is an island with a flat top coastline; in the Southern Hemisphre Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand are shown as partial outlines. Above the map the decorative borders contain images of the sun and moon with faces, and an armillary sphere; bottom left is a scene of Adam in the Garden of Eden This map was by the Blaeu firm c.1672, and is one of only two atlas maps by them to feature the myth of California as island. The plate was not used before the disastrous fire of 1673 ruined the firm. Valk probably bought the plate in an auction sale of 1694, after which he engraved his own name over Blaeu's, leaving everything else unaltered, including the blank dedication armorial.