#4 La Florida, Guasteca, and Peru Chaves/Ortelius, 1579 $35 $225 framed

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Abraham Ortelius published these three maps of Spanish colonial interest in America in editions of his atlas from 1584-1612. La Florida was drawn in Spain by Geronimo Chaves and is regarded as one of the most important early maps of the southeastern America. Twenty-two native settlements are identified as are many capes, bays, and rivers. Interior details are similar to those recorded by the DeSoto expedition of 1539-42.

At left, Spanish vessels cruise by the gold rich region of Peru in this beautiful map by Diego Hurtado de Mendoza. The legendary kingdom of El Dorado is marked as Aurea Regio and the Amazon River is shown with several of its tributaries.

Below right, an elaborate bull's head cartouche identifies the region of Guasteca, Mexico. This anonymous map shows some of the Mexican interior near the Gulf . 

Image Size : 18 ¼" X 13 ½"

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