Bloomsbury’s first major sale of the autumn is Maps & Atlases on 11th September. Lot 1 is the important Theatrum Terrae Sanctae by Christianus Ardichomius of 1600 and a milestone in Holy Land cartography (estimate £2500-£3000). A 1785 wall map of the African continent (lot 52) Carte d’Afrique bordered with 20 scenes of African history as well as a biblical scene, captioned in French and Spanish is estimated £6000-£8000. Louisiana is very topical now and Bloomsbury is offering a 1718 map of the area, Partie Meridionale de la Riviere de Missisipi, et des Environs… by Nicolas de Fer which is expected to reach £5000-£7000 (lot 72). This sale includes a couple of Claudius Ptolomaeus pieces such as lot 160 Nona Asie (estimated £1500-£2000) and Septima Asie Tabula (lot 222) both datable to 1482-86 and both carrying the same estimate of £1500-£2000. As all things Russian are the flavour of the moment, Moscva, Des Grossen ZaarsResidents Stadt in Russland by Adam Olearius (lot 219) decorated with a cartouche of the Imperial arms, is estimated at £1500-£2000.

Amongst the British maps is lot 291 British Coastal Charts by Jacques Nicolas Bellin, created for the benefit of the French navy in 1757-62 (estimated £2000-£3000). 82 sheets of an indicated 84, of an Ordnance Survey of England and Wales of 1805-1842(lot 343) is estimated £3000-4000 while Charles Goad’s Insurance Plans of London (lots 384-390) have estimates between £100-£1500.

Auction info www.bloomsburyauctions.com

Posted: 09|6|08 at 8:31 am. Filed under: Press Release.