Alaska--Jode, Cornelis de.

Burden, Mapping of North America 82; Falk, Alaskan Maps, 1593-2, p.14, xiii

The condition of this item is as described in the catalogue
"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.
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The first printed map of Alaska, and a landmark in the mapping of the American north-west and California.

Although printed on a separate sheet in the atlas, this map was intended to be contiguous with the previous lot (they can be joined) to complete the coverage of North America west to the Strait of Anian, dividing North America from Asia.

De Jode has adroitly placed two text cartouches to fill space in the interior as a device to hide his lack of knowledge, but the vignettes of Tartar-style figures and buildings, and accompanying text, reflect the contemporary view that the region was populated by migration from Asia.

At the top of the map are four legendary islands believed to encircle the North Pole, and a strait running across the north of North America, apparently forming a navigable channel from Europe to the Asia, the famous North-West Passage.