World--Fine, Oronce.

Nordenskiold, Fascsimile Atlas p.74 (notes), p.90 & p.126 (XLI-2); Shirley, Mapping of the World 66, listed as state 1; Schilder, Australia Unveiled map 7

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Famous and influential map of the world, by the leading French cartographer of the period, constructed on an unusual double-cordiform (heart-shaped) projection, with the poles at the centre of each "heart".

This is the first printed map to view the world from the poles; its influence can be seen in Mercator's world map of 1538, and derivatives, including Floriano's world map of 1555 (lot 2), as well as with later maps such de Jode's (lot 28).

The map is significant for a number of reasons: the four islands at the north pole and the depiction of the European, Asian and American continents as "a contiguous landmass, here the American mainland discoveries apparently shown as the north-eastern extremity of Asia, rather than as a separate continent, along the lines of Contarini and Ruysch, but monumental discoveries have forever altered the coastlines. Finé has extended the eastern coast of North America southward beyond the discoveries of Gomes and Ayllon to a peninsular outline of Florida, which is named, and a reasonable representation of the Gulf coast as described by Pineda in 1519. The South American continent is admirably depicted incorporating discoveries by the Portuguese, including Ferdinand Magellan" (Benevento). 

The right hand "heart" is dominated by the large southern continent labelled "Terra Australis recenter inventa, sed nondu[m] plene cognita" (literally "southern land recently found, but not yet fully known"). This comment has caused all sorts of trouble, as the earliest recognised discoverer of the south pole is the Russian Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820; Captain Cook came close but was thwarted by the dreadful weather when he made his attempt. The alleged similarity of the continent depicted to the rock coastline of Antarctica (rather than the overlying ice boundary) has led more fanciful writers to postulate knowledge of the region being passed to Fine from maritime cultures who explored the region before the ice formed: residents of the lost city of Atlantis, or alien visitors.

Shirley records this state as the first in his sequence, but this seems unlikely; a more plausible sequence is first his state 2, with the imprint of Hermannus Venraed dated 1531, then his state 1 with the imprint of Christian Wechel dated 1531, but used in the 1532 Paris edition of Johann Huttich's Novus orbis regionum, printed by Wechel, followed by Shirley's state 3, dated 1535, also bearing Wechel's imprint.