Early Dutch edition of the famous isogonic world chart by Edmond Halley (1656-1742), English astronomer, mathematician and physicist. Halley published his observations on the conditions of terrestrial magnetism in 1701 as the "General chart of the Variation of the Compass", the first map showing both the isogonic lines, connecting points of equal magnetic variation in the ocean, and the trade winds, making it one of the most important maps of the 18th c. This impressive mural map, published by Ottens, follows the Mercator projection and centers the America's, depicting California not anymore as an island, and repeats Eastern Asia and the south Pacific are repeated on both sides of the map, and Australia (Nouvelle Hollande), Tasmania (Pays de Diemen), New Guinea (Nouv' Guine), and New Zealand (Nouvelle Zeelande) are only partially delineated.
The interiors of the continents are left largely blank, with place names focused on the coasts.
A large semi-circular inset of the North polar region is depicted in the south Pacific. There are two explanatory blocks of text in Latin and French at left, and a decorative cartouche at right dedicated to Queen Anne, who ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1702. The decorative title cartouche is surmounted by female figures representing astronomy, navigation, and exploration.
Latin, French and Dutch text on this map.