World--Arias Montanus, Benedictus.

Schilder, Australia Unveiled, Map 20; Shirley, Mapping of the World 125, plate 1 state 2

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."

A rare double-hemisphere map of the world, prepared to illustrate Arias Montanus' eight-volume polyglot Bible,

The map depicts the re-population of the world by the three sons of Noah, the descendants of Japhet , those of Shem and of Ham the locations keyed to lists of the tribes in the cusps outside the hemispheres.

Notable is the location of Jobab and Sephermos in South America, while Ophir is given two sites, on the west coasts of North America and South America. The location of the Biblical Ophir has never been convincingly established, but it was said to be the source of large quantities of gold in the time of King Solomon, and this map has been used to suggest that the Phoenicians, a great maritime trading nation from classical times, had ventured as far as the Pacific rim of America.

The map is rather crudely executed, giving an impressionistic rather than geographically accurate depiction of the world. What has created a good deal of attention is, however, a large landmass placed below the East Indies, in roughly the position of modern Australia, and variously described as the first appearance of Australia on a printed map, evidence of unknown voyages of discovery before the recorded Dutch contacts from the next century, or "no more than the engraver's licence" (Shirley).