Description

London, John Ogilby, 1671. Broadsheet, printed on laid paper (31.4 x 19.9 cm), printed surface 28.5 x 17.2 cm. = A seldom-seen image showing the great explorer Christopher Columbus in a cartouche formed by two fish, and a seashell, the seafarer holding a Jacob's staff, with an astrolabe and chart before him, and a sailing ship in the background; captioned below 'Cristofel Colonus'. This engraving was drawn and sold by the British geographer and astronomer John Ogilby (1600-1675), publisher of several lavish atlasses, who became His Majesty's Cosmographer. The portrait first appeared in his atlas, America: Being the Latest, and Most Accurate Description of the New World. Light staining and a few, very short tears at the lower edge; weak, diagonal crease in the lower right corner; the right margin wider than the left margin; otherwise, very good. Sabin, 50089.