Descripcion de las Yndias Ocidentalis.

Rare early general map of America, the Pacific Ocean and the Eastern part of Asia. Showing "Meridiano de la demarcacion porla parte oscidental" - and "... Oriental".
Spain and Portugal reached a compromise in the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas, wherein a line was drawn from the Arctic to the Antarctic Poles at a distance of 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. Each power agreed that all lands on the eastern side of the line belonged to the King of Portugal and his successors, while all other lands belonged to the King and Queen of Spain. Dividing the world between themselves prevented incursion into the southern oceans of the vessels of other nations. If England and France wished to reach the East Indies, they could do so only by finding a route north of Canada (the Northwest Passage) or over the top of Norway and Russia (Northeast Passage). At times, the line of Tordesillas, known as Meridianus particionis, was used as a prime meridian. From Antonio de Herrera y Tordesillas Description des Indes Occidentales Qu'on appelle aujourdhuy Le Nouveau Monde. . .

This map is one of the earliest maps to show the region and one of the most unique, coming exclusively from Spanish sources.

Herrera served as the official historian of the King of Spain, and he produced a substantial history of the West Indies, Central and South America. Originally published in 1601 in Madrid, it was reissued later in several editions and languages. Of greatest importance was the 1622 Amsterdam reissuance.

More about Antonio Herrera y Tordesillas. [+]

Reference: Borba de Moraes p.400. European Americana 622/68. JCB (3)II:166. Sabin 31543, Tiele pp. 56-57, 314-316, Tiele-Muller 296. Wagner Spanish Southwest 12a.