Philippines, based on Velarde

Antonio Zatta, 1785
Isole Filippine.  Excellent. Original color. 16 x 12 inches. $1600.

The extremely complex Philippine archipelago was gradually unravelled by Spanish mariners from the first encounter with the islands in 1521, and matured in the early eighteenth century with the very rare map of Velarde. Several fine derivative maps followed, including this attractively engraved Italian work.