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 Fine Art. Antique Prints, Maps and Drawings / 18-04-2026, 18:00 CET

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12912c_8de97065894805a

"Tabula Geographica Hydrophylacium Africae Meijoris exhibens". This work presents a speculative geographic and hydrographic view of Asia, stretching from Persia and the Arabian Peninsula to China, Japan, and the East Indian Archipelago. The map is notable for its depiction of Kircher's theory of a subterranean world, specifically showing a large "hydrophylacium" or underground water reservoir beneath the Himalayas, which he believed fed the great rivers of Asia like the Ganges and the Indus. This etching is a double-page plate from the influential work Mundus Subterraneus, published in Amsterdam by Johannes Janssonius van Waesberghe in 1665. The work is famous for blending seventeenth-century scientific observation with fantastical theories about the Earth's internal structure and volcanic systems. Athanasius Kircher was a German Jesuit scholar and polymath who published around forty major works on subjects ranging from oriental studies and geology to medicine and music. Based in Rome at the Collegio Romano, he was one of the most famous scientists of his age, often compared to Leonardo da Vinci for the breadth of his interests. Kircher was a pioneer in the use of the microscope and was among the first to propose that infectious diseases were caused by microorganisms. His Mundus Subterraneus was a foundational text in the early history of geology and physical geography, attempting to explain the Earth's mysteries through a combination of global data collection and speculative reasoning. Despite the eventual scientific rejection of his hollow-earth theories, his maps remain highly regarded for their intricate detail and artistic quality. Artist or Maker:Athanasius Kircher. Dimensions:Approximately 39 cm x 43 cm. Medium:Etching. Date:1665. Condition Report:This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.

Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) – Map of Asia and Southeast Asia – Etching (1665)

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12913c_8de970665dfa102

"Hydrophylacium Africae precipuum in Montibus Lunae situm". This work presents a speculative geographic and hydrographic view of Southern Africa, illustrating Athanasius Kircher’s complex theories regarding the Earth's internal water systems. The map prominently features a large "hydrophylacium" or subterranean water reservoir located within the "Mountains of the Moon," which Kircher identified as the primary source of the Nile and other major African rivers. This etching is a double-page plate from the influential scientific work Mundus Subterraneus, published in Amsterdam by Johannes Janssonius van Waesberghe in 1665. The illustration is a quintessential example of seventeenth-century natural philosophy, blending early geographic exploration with fantastical geological hypotheses to explain the hydrological cycle. Athanasius Kircher was a German Jesuit polymath and one of the most celebrated scholars of the seventeenth century. Based at the Collegio Romano, he authored dozens of works covering a vast array of subjects including volcanology, magnetism, and ancient languages. Kircher was a pioneer in using the microscope for scientific study and is often remembered for his efforts to synthesize all known human knowledge into a single worldview. His Mundus Subterraneus was a foundational text in the development of geology, proposing that the Earth contained a complex network of underground fires and water chambers. While his theories were later superseded by modern science, his maps remain highly significant for their technical execution and their reflection of the transition between Renaissance mysticism and Enlightenment empiricism. Artist or Maker:Athanasius Kircher. Dimensions:Approximately 40 cm x 43 cm. Medium:Etching. Date:1665. Condition Report:This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.

Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) – Map of Southern Africa and the Nile Sources – Etching (1665)

12914c_8de9706743bc02e

"Tabula qua Hydrophylacium Andium exhibetur". This work presents a speculative geographic and hydrographic view of South America, illustrating Athanasius Kircher’s complex theories regarding the Earth's internal water systems. The map prominently features a large "hydrophylacium" or subterranean water reservoir located within the Andes mountains, which Kircher believed acted as a massive cistern feeding the continent's major river systems, such as the Amazon and the Río de la Plata. This etching is a plate from the influential scientific work Mundus Subterraneus, published in Amsterdam by Johannes Janssonius van Waesberghe in 1665. The illustration is a quintessential example of seventeenth-century natural philosophy, blending early geographic exploration of the New World with fantastical geological hypotheses to explain the hydrological cycle. Athanasius Kircher was a German Jesuit polymath and one of the most celebrated scholars of the seventeenth century. Based at the Collegio Romano, he authored dozens of works covering a vast array of subjects including volcanology, magnetism, and ancient languages. Kircher was a pioneer in using the microscope for scientific study and is often remembered for his efforts to synthesize all known human knowledge into a single worldview. His Mundus Subterraneus was a foundational text in the development of geology, proposing that the Earth contained a complex network of underground fires and water chambers. While his theories were later superseded by modern science, his maps remain highly significant for their technical execution and their reflection of the transition between Renaissance mysticism and Enlightenment empiricism. Artist or Maker:Athanasius Kircher. Dimensions:Approximately 39 cm x 24 cm. Medium:Etching. Date:1665. Condition Report:This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.

Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) – Map of South America and the Andean Reservoir – Etching (1665)

12915c_8de9706803305a1

"Tabula Geographico-Hydrographica Motus Oceani, Currentes, Abyssos, Montes Ignivomos in Universo Orbe Indicans". This work is the first world map ever printed to illustrate ocean currents, shown through a series of rhythmic, swirling lines throughout the global seas. The map also identifies the locations of various "abyssos" (oceanic whirlpools or whirlpool-like vents) and "montes ignivomos" (volcanoes), reflecting Kircher’s revolutionary theory that the Earth’s interior was a honeycomb of water and fire connected by subterranean tunnels. This double-page etching is from the seminal scientific work Mundus Subterraneus, published in Amsterdam by Johannes Janssonius van Waesberghe in 1665. It represents a significant milestone in the history of oceanography and physical geography, attempting to synthesize a global system of maritime movement and geological activity. Athanasius Kircher was a German Jesuit polymath based at the Collegio Romano, widely considered the most influential scientific thinker of the mid-seventeenth century. His interests were nearly universal, spanning linguistics, medicine, and the natural sciences. In Mundus Subterraneus, Kircher proposed that ocean currents were driven by water being drawn into whirlpools at the North Pole, traveling through the Earth's center, and emerging at the South Pole. While his specific internal mechanisms were later disproved, his observation of surface currents and his systematic mapping of volcanic activity were pioneering efforts in empirical global science. Kircher’s maps are celebrated for their technical precision and their role in transitioning natural philosophy from Renaissance speculation toward modern scientific inquiry. Artist or Maker: Athanasius Kircher. Dimensions: Approximately 40 cm x 56 cm. Medium: Etching. Date: 1665. Condition Report:This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.

Athanasius Kircher (1602-1680) – Tabula Geographico-Hydrographica Motus Oceani – Etching (1665)

12919c_8de971496ce6695

"Bavaria Pars Superior". This work presents a detailed topographical survey of the southern region of the Duchy of Bavaria, encompassing the territories between the Lech and Inn rivers and extending south into the Alpine foothills. The map features an inset in the upper right corner detailing the Archbishopric of Salzburg and neighboring districts. The composition is decorated with several baroque elements, including a large title cartouche at the upper left supported by putti and a secondary cartouche at the lower right flanked by allegorical figures and the Bavarian coat of arms. This hand-coloured etching was published in Nuremberg and is typical of the Homann style, characterized by dense geographical information, including forests, mountain ranges, and hundreds of individual settlements, all within the context of early eighteenth-century administrative boundaries. Johann Baptist Homann was a prominent German cartographer and engraver who established the most successful map-publishing house in Germany during the eighteenth century. Based in Nuremberg, a major center for the printing trade, he was appointed Imperial Geographer to Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. Homann is credited with revitalizing German cartography by moving away from decorative Dutch models toward more functionally detailed and scientifically updated maps. His publications, such as the Grosser Atlas über die ganze Welt, became the standard for accuracy and artistic quality across Europe. After his death, the firm continued to operate under his heirs as the Homann Heirs, remaining a dominant force in the global map market for over a century. Artist or Maker:Johann Baptist Homann. Dimensions:Approximately 52 cm x 31 cm. Medium:Hand-coloured etching. Date:1710. Condition Report:This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.

Johann Baptist Homann (1664-1724) – Map of Upper Bavaria – Germany – Hand-coloured etching (1710)

12920c_8de9714a3062b71

"Bavariae Circulus et Electoratus". This work presents a comprehensive geographical survey of the Bavarian Circle, one of the administrative groupings of the Holy Roman Empire. The map delineates the Electorate of Bavaria along with the Upper Palatinate, the Archbishopric of Salzburg, and various smaller ecclesiastical and secular territories. A highly decorative baroque cartouche in the upper right corner features allegorical figures, the Bavarian coat of arms held by putti, and a personification of the Danube River. This hand-coloured etching, published in Nuremberg, is noted for its high density of detail, including the courses of the Danube and Inn rivers, mountain ranges, and numerous fortified towns and villages, reflecting the complex political landscape of southern Germany in the early eighteenth century. Johann Baptist Homann was a prominent German cartographer and engraver who established the most successful map-publishing house in Germany during the eighteenth century. Based in Nuremberg, a major center for the printing trade, he was appointed Imperial Geographer to Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI. Homann is credited with revitalizing German cartography by moving away from decorative Dutch models toward more functionally detailed and scientifically updated maps. His publications, such as the Grosser Atlas über die ganze Welt, became the standard for accuracy and artistic quality across Europe. After his death, the firm continued to operate under his heirs as the Homann Heirs, remaining a dominant force in the global map market for over a century. Artist or Maker:Johann Baptist Homann. Dimensions:Approximately 52 cm x 31 cm. Medium:Hand-coloured etching. Date:1707. Condition Report:This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.