1694 Map of the Americas as "Atlantis" by Nicolas Sanson

Item Details

A 1694 map of North and South America, by French cartographer Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667), published posthumously by his son Guillaume Sanson. Notably, this map does not show the Americas as they existed in Sanson’s time, but rather a legendary past based on Greek mythology and the Atlantis myth, a time when the god Poseidon divided up the lands of Atlantis between his ten children. In this map, the Americas are labelled as ‘Atlantis Insulae’ (islands of Atlantis) and are divided into regions named after the children of Poseidon. Other legendary features appear including the mythical cities of Machimos and Eusebes (see link) and the island of Thule (depicted in the location of Iceland). A hand-colored illustration of Poseidon and his children appears at the bottom right of the map. Printed from an engraved plate onto laid paper. Mounted on white cardstock backing in a transparent plastic envelope.

Condition

- minor paper discoloration and a few small tears around the edges, but overall quite good for its age.

Dimensions

Item #

15CIN344-446

Additional Information

Nicolas Sanson at Wikipedia, More on the "Atlantis Insulae" Map from Barry Lawrence Ruderman, Meropis, Machimos, and Eusebes at Wikipedia, Island of Thule at Wikipedia