This fine, scarce engraving is from John Ogilby’s America: being the latest, and most accurate description of the New World … Collected from most authentick authors, augmented with later observations and adorn’d with maps and sculptures, by John Ogilby. This first edition work was published in London by Ogilby in 1671. This is the first English edition after Arnoldus Montanus’s De Nieuwe en Onbekende Weereld to which Ogilby added a number of references to New England, New France, Maryland and Virginia.

This edition is considered more desirable for these additional references as well because they were often some of the earliest views and thus more comprehensive. The work included one of the first views of New York City. It also included new material on the English colonies in North America supplied by the Propietors. It also included an important map of the Americas as well as early depictions of the Carolinas, Maryland, Jamaica, and Barbados.

Ogilby’s America… dealt with important voyages and expeditions to the Americas, descriptions of Mexico, the Caribbean Islands, Bermuda, and North America, as well as South America and the Arctic region (referred to as the “Unknown South-Land”). The work also feature portraits of Columbus, Vesputius, Magellan and others. In addition, Ogilby included many plates dealing with facets of Indian life including games, festivals, occupations, habitations, and religion.

John Ogilby (1600-1676) was in many trades in his life including dancing-master, courtier, theater owner, poet, translator, and publisher. In 1661 he became the master of the king’s imprimeries of the king’s printer. In the last decade of his life he began his work with geography resulting in this remarkable work. His venture into publishing atlases resulted in him being named his Majesty’s cosmographer in 1671.