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Description

Fine set of 8 (of 12) engraved globe gores covering North America, from an unrecorded mid-18th Century Globe.

In August 2012, we were advised of a similar set of gores at the University of Vilnius, engraved by Johann Friedrich Endersch, Royal Geographer to King Augustus III of Poland. Johann Friedrich Endersch (1705-1769) was a famous German cartographer and mathematician. Endersch was born in Dornfeld in Thuringia and had spent most of his life in Elblag in Royal Prussia, Poland. Johann Friedrich Endersch got the title of Royal Mathematician from Augustus III of Poland.

We have dated the map based upon the note in this plate identifying Alof Kramer's discovery of Kraemer Banks in 1751, which as later debunked in the ealry 19th Century by Captain Ross and others. Among other noteworthy features, the Black sea is shown with a current flowing from the Dniepr River and Danube River, the first time we have seen such a current chart in the Black Sea.

One of the more fascinating elements of this pair of gores is the references to "Anglo Dobbsio," in the upper left, in the discussion of the north polar regions. Arthur Dobbs, a wealthy North Carolina land owner and Governor (1754-65), was heavily involved in attempts to find a Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic during the 1740s. He actively worked to have the Hudson's Bay Company's trade monopoly revoked on the grounds that they showed little or no interest in promoting discovery expeditions relating to the Northwest Passage. Dobbs felt that others might finance exploration if they had some expectation of trade. From 1741 to 1747, Dobbs managed to stimulate exploration, the result of which convinced most people that such a passage did not exist. Dobbs' involvement in the Canadian Arctic exploration resulted in a substantial increase in geographical knowledge as well as increased awareness of the economic potential.

The Australia plate provides an exceptional large format treatment of Australia, naming Hoog Land, Arnhams Land, Carpendaria, Wild's Land (detecta 1620), Terra Concordia (detecta 1616), Ter Lewin (detecta 1621) and Terra Diemaen, including Pt. Friderich Henry and I. Van der Lin. To the north, in the still uncharted channel between Australia and New Guinea, Nova Britania is shown, but the coastline of Nova Guinea trails off without a southern coastline.

Several volcanoes are shown north of Timor, with several Dutch sailing ships headed eastward into the straight, two of which are in the process of sinking off the Australian Coastline, with an ominous sea creature guarding the eastern end of the Strait.

With inscription within a decorative cartouche "Plagas Polis mundi Arctico atque huic Antarctico..." and further inscriptions regarding discovery of Americas, attempts to find a Northwest Passage, and charting of the Amazonas et al, mentioning Doppelmayr, Dobbs and La Condamine although the various decorative elements as ships, sea monsters, vignette of Neptune, and compass roses are still in 17th century style.

Condition Description
8 (of 12) gores