[Polus Antarcticus]

Description

The fourth state of Polus Antarcticus was first published in 1652 which omits the title cartouche in prior editions which allowed further recent discoveries made by Abel Tasman of New Zealand and Tasmania to be added.

It was one of the earliest printed maps to show Abel Tasman’s discoveries on the western coastline of New Holland, ‘Nova Hollandia detect Anno 1644’, the southern tip of Van Diemen’s Land and part of the west coast of New Zealand. The large vignettes surrounding the hemispherical map depict scenes from South America and the Pacific region.

The first state of the map was first published c.1637 and shows Australia prior to the discoveries of Tasman in 1642 and 1643-44.
The second state c.1645 lists “Ioannes Iansonnius” as the publisher in the title cartouche.
The third state published c.1650 also lists “Ioannes Iansonnius” as publisher but omits the blank cartouche, and includes several discoveries not present on the first or second states of the map.
The first issue of the fourth and final state, of Polus Antarcticus was first published in 1652.
The second issue of the fourth and final state, of Polus Antarcticus was published in 1700 .was issued without text on the verso and has the imprint “Apud G. Valk et P. Schenk Amstel.