Moll, Herman. A Map of the West-Indies or the Islands of America in the North Sea, c. 1715. with ye adjacent Countries; explaining what belongs to Spain, England, France, Holland &c Also ye Trade Winds and ye several Tracts made by ye Galeons and Flota from Place to Place (London, c. 1715). Sheet size: 25 x 42". Outline coloring. Dedicated to William Paterson, founder of the Bank of England.
A detailed map charting part of the West Indies, the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, and the Spanish Main, with insets of Vera Cruz, Havana, Porto Bella, St. Augustine, and Cartagena, plus a lovely 13½" inset of Mexico City with an index identifying many of the buildings in that city. The map has been called a guide for English pirates and privateers because it offers detailed information on the path taken by the Spanish flotilla taking treasure on at Veracruz (from the silver mines of Potosí) to Spanish ports in Europe; for example, Moll notes "At Cartagena, the Gallions usually stay 60 days, and thence go to Portobel where they lye 30 days…they sail from Havana [where he notes 'a High Tower where is always watch kept'] to meet ye Flota, which is a small number of ships that go to Vera Cruz to take in ye Effects of that Country." From Veracruz he shows the route of the ships "occasioned by ye Trade Winds." In the Gulf of Mexico, he gives instructions on determining how far a ship is from shore, and from Havana, he notes that the Gallions and Flota usually join there and the whole Armada sails for Spain through the gulf between Florida and the Bahamas.
Very good. Printed on two sheets joined by the original publisher. Common minor wear along original centerfold. Border has some light soiling and small closed edge tears. A beautiful and important map.
Estimated Value $4,000 - 6,000.
The Hunter Collection of Antique Maps
