AN HIDROGRAPHICALL DRAUGHT OF MEXICO AS IT LIES IN ITS LAKES – ORIGINAL COPPER ENGRAVING

AN HIDROGRAPHICALL DRAUGHT OF MEXICO AS IT LIES IN ITS LAKES – ORIGINAL COPPER ENGRAVING

Price: £150.00
Publisher: Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri
Publication date: 1704
Format: Original copper engraving
Condition: In very good condition, unframed
Sheet Size: 20.7cm x 31.8cm
Condition: Age-toning, slight creasing not affecting the plate surface. In very good condition overall.

An Hidrographicall Draught of Mexico as It Lies in Its Lakes: A Short Description

This rare and unusual map, dating from 1704, was published in the English edition of Gemelli Careri’s Giro del Mondo. It offers a fascinating depiction of 17th-century Mexico City, surrounded by its extensive lakes before the city expanded into one of the largest metropolises in the world. The map provides a detailed look at the region’s unique topography, highlighting the interwoven relationship between the city and the surrounding bodies of water.

Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri: A Short Biography

Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri (1651–1725) was an Italian adventurer, traveller, and one of the earliest known globe-trotters. He is best remembered for his extensive travels around the world, documented in his six-volume work, Giro del Mondo (“Journey Around the World”). His journey, undertaken in the late 17th century, made him one of the first Europeans to circumnavigate the globe using commercial transport rather than a dedicated expedition.

Early Life and Background:

• Birth and Education: Gemelli Careri was born in Trecase, near Naples, in 1651. He studied law at the University of Salerno and earned a doctorate in civil and canon law.
• Career: Initially a legal advocate, Gemelli Careri eventually left his career behind to pursue his passion for travel and exploration, embarking on a grand voyage around the world.

The Journey Around the World:

• Motivation: His journey was driven by a desire to document various cultures, peoples, and landscapes. Unlike many explorers of his time, Gemelli Careri traveled largely at his own expense, often using public and commercial transportation.
• The Giro del Mondo (1693-1698): Over five years, he visited many countries and regions, including Europe, Asia, China, the Philippines, and the Americas.

Contributions and Legacy:

• Cultural Documentation: His work is valued for its detailed descriptions of the cultures and places he encountered, providing insights into daily life, customs, and social structures.
• Influence on Exploration: His travels encouraged later explorers, demonstrating the possibility of circumnavigating the globe using commercial routes.

Final Years:

• After his travels, Gemelli Careri returned to Naples, where he continued to write and publish until his death in 1725. His work remains a significant source for historians studying early modern global interactions.

Location: Map drawer C: Folder: SA1010

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