Set of World & Four Continents

A fine set from the golden age of decorative cartography. Shirley describes this world map as a 'classic single-sheet world map on Mercator's projection... celebrated as one of the supreme examples of the map maker's art'. It has allegorical figures representing the moon and six known planets along the top, the Four Elements on the left, the Four Seasons on the right, and the Seven Wonders of the World along the bottom. Each of the continents has two columns of native dress and nine city prospects along the top.