The Americas from Cloppenburg’s ‘Atlas Minor’

A scarce miniature map of North and South America from Cloppenburgh's edition of Mercator's 'Atlas Minor', which was slightly larger in format than other Dutch pocket atlases of the period. Although unsigned, it was probably engraved by Pieter van der Keere, whose name appears on many other plates in the atlas. It shows California still attached to the mainland, but marks the mythical islands of Frisland Brasil. The seas are filled with galleons and sea monsters. First published in 1630, there was a third edition in 1636 before a hiatus until an edition in 1673, suggesting the plates were suppressed.