Maps | Archive | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Solomon Islands with the Unusual Fictitious Terre de Qvir – Mallet – 1683

An unusual and scarce original copper engraved map “Isles de Solomons” by Allain Mallet published in Paris in 1683 as part of his great work on “the Universe”.

One of the most intriguing Mallet maps. It purports to show that Queiros had a theory that a great land mass existed between the Solomon Islands and New Zealand … here named “Terre de Qvir” … similar to, or as a part, of the supposed great southern continent “Terra Australis”. Decorated with nine sailing ships.

In 1567 Alvarode Mendana de Neira (Mendana) set out from Lima to fine gold in the Pacific. Legend had it that the Biblical Ophir which had provided the gold for Solomon’s Temple lay somewhere out there. They sailed for over eighty days and 6,000 miles before the reached land … and here marked Isle St Isabelle. It was almost thirty years later in 1895 that Mendana set off on a voyage to colonise the Solomon’s, following Drake’s plundering of the Spanish interest on the west coast of South America . His Chief Pilot was Pedro Fernandes de Queiros and they set sail with four vessels and 378 individuals (including family, criminals, prostitutes etc). First, the discovered the Marquesas and treated the native people very badly, many of whom were killed as if for sport. They then went on to find the Santa Cruz Islands … but failed to find the Solomon Islands. They headed for Manilla and only 100 survived the dangerous adventure. Mendana died on the voyage.

Allain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706) was a French cartographer and engineer. He started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XIV and became a Sergeant Major and an Inspector of Fortifications a role which afforded him the resources required to produce this treasure.

Price $120.00 unframed or $220.00 framed in Voyager style … enquire if you wish

Historical important mallet Map for the Pacific region from the Solomon Islands to New Zealand

$120.00

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Early Maps – Tony Campbell

Another beautiful book on early cartography. Published in 1980 by Abbeville Press, New York.

Folio, of near square format, 147 pages heavily illustrated in colour with a number of fold-out reproductions. A fine copy of a book of high standard. A heavy book that might require some further postage assistance.

Tony Campbell was a Director of distinguished London map dealer Douwma. He was a regular contributor to Map Collector’s Circle, The Map Collector and Imago Mundi.

Set out geographically … The World; The Americas; Europe and the Mediterranean; Africa; Asia; Australia and the South Pacific …. very good narrative and glossary for further reference.

Early maps in all their beauty well explained and beautifully displayed.

$80.00

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Antique Maps of Europe, the Americas, West Indies, Australasia, the Orient – Douglas Gohm

A first printing published by Octopus Books, London and Sydney in 1972. Large quarto, 128 pages, profusely illustrated. A fine copy, in a fine dust jacket.

A very good book as an introduction to rare map collecting. A nice summary of the great cartographers and then a comprehensive array of some of the most attractive or intriguing.

Spot some of Voyagers favourites in here – such as the mysterious island of Juan Fernandez (page 95) also known as Robinson Crusoe’s Island. And the Tallis map of South Australia makes the front of the dust jacket.

Good map book nice images … educational content.

$50.00

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Early Thematic Mapping in the History of Cartography – Robinson (Perry’s Copy)

A first edition published by the University of Chicago Press in 1982.

Small quarto, 266 pages nicely illustrated as you would expect with the subject. Very good if not fine condition.

Published map expert Perry’s copy with his name neatly written on the end papers.

The author Arthur H Robinson was the Professor of cartography at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He published several works on the broader subject.

Following a good “Guide to Notes, references and Illustrations” we have chapters on the Appearance of the First Thematic Maps; the New world and a New outlook; Single Maps and Thematic atlases; the Physical World; Maps of people and Their activities; the Social environment etc.

What makes this book special is the understanding of the development and scope of thematic cartography before the digital age … maybe we have lost something despite the obvious ease ..

Thematic maps … they inform and make you think

$45.00

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Tropical Africa – Henry Drummond – First Ed 1888

Published by Hodder and Stoughton London 1888, a first edition.

Octavo, 228 pages, bound in the original red cloth with coated black end papers. Gilt lettering to spine and an gilt insect stamped on the front board. Illustrated with 4 excellent coloured folding maps, all in fine condition, as well as several wood engravings. Covers a trifle aged internally very clean a very good copy

Scottish born Henry Drummond (1851-1897) was educated at Edinburgh University. He became a lecturer in Natural Science at the Free Church College. In 1880 he Became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, his proposers included Lord Kelvin and Archibald Geikie. In 1883 he was invited by the African Lakes Company to conduct an expedition and study in Central Africa. From that effort this book was published in 1888.

Contents include chapters on the River Zambesi and Shire; Lakes Shirwa and Nyassa; the country and people of Central Africa; travelling on the Nyassa-Tanganyika Plateau; a study of Africa insects, geology and some political commentary. A most useful and interesting digest.

The four excellent maps include the Author’s route; a Slave Trade map (sadly there was a lot of it); a Geological sketch map and a Political Map showing European claims compared with Agreements … surprisingly different.

$80.00

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Mare Rubrum (The Red Sea) – Petrus Bertius -1602

An original copper engraved miniature map of the Red Sea region, one of the earliest to focus on this region. With north orientated to the right showing Yemen and the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Egypt with place names and rivers in some detail, mountain regions illustrated, shallow marshy areas highlighted. Later colouring as always. 12.5cm by 8.5cm.

Engraved by Petrus Kaerius for the great geographer Petrus Bertius and published by Cornelis Claesz in Amsterdam in 1602 for the “Tabularum Geographicarum Contractarum Libri”. Refer expert Geffrey King’s authoritative work on miniature maps.

Price $120.00 unframed

Red sea region over 400 year old.

$120.00

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Solomon Islands with the Unusual Fictitious Terre de Qvir – Mallet – 1683

Early Maps – Tony Campbell

Antique Maps of Europe, the Americas, West Indies, Australasia, the Orient – Douglas Gohm

Early Thematic Mapping in the History of Cartography – Robinson (Perry’s Copy)

Tropical Africa – Henry Drummond – First Ed 1888

Mare Rubrum (The Red Sea) – Petrus Bertius -1602

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