[World and Four Continents].

A beautiful set of maps engraved by Goos of the World and four continents. The first map is the striking World double hemisphere map.
This map is from Jan Janssonius pocket-size " Atlas Minor".
California is shown as an island, and there are remnants of the unknown southern continent, "Terra Australis Incognita", which remains, with an elaborate explanation of the region where Australia would later appear.
It includes an elaborate strapwork border, two notes in Latin, an elaborate compass rose and sphere, references to the 4 elements in the corners (air, fire, earth and water) and other embellishments.

The second map is a fine small map of Africa. There are many places named and rivers noted, including Madagascar and many small Indian Ocean islands. It is decorated with a delicate title cartouche.

The third map is Americae Descriptio. The most dominant feature of the map is the curious depiction of the west coast of North America, which is completely bisected by an unnamed straight (Northwest Passage), possibly derived from reports of Juan de Fuca's disputed voyage. The bulging northwest coast of North America continues another 65 degrees and is separated from Asia by a narrow Fretum Anian.
These features were derived from the Van den Keere and Plancius globe of 1614 and this is the first time they appear on a map of the Americas. Previous maps had depicted the supposed Northwest Passage through the Strait of Anian. Other interesting features include the St. Lawrence River flowing from a small lake in the west, no Great Lakes, and an area of shading in Virginia alluding to the possibility of a Verrazano-type inland sea.

The fourth map is that of Asia. Although engraved by Goos, it strongly resembles Pieter van den Keere's configuration with Japan on the Teixeira model and the island of Korea, here called Cory. Van den Keere engraved many of the other maps in Jansson's Atlas Minor.

The fifth and final map is of Europae Nova Tabula. It shows the discoveries of Willem Barents in his quest to find a Northeast Passage to Asia.

Reference: Koeman, Me.194 Shirley 355 Burden 221,