Herman Moll; c1654-1732.

A noted dutch engraver of german descent, Moll emigrated from Holland, and set shop in London around 1680. By the turn of the century, he had achieved prominence in the map publishing business thanks to a tireless production of atlas volumes, geography books, decorative maps and miniature maps, all of distinguished quality.
He is often credited for being the first mapmaker to use the London Meridian as a universal longitude reference.
His "New and Exact Map of the Dominions of the King of Great Britain on ye Continent of North America" (also known as the "Beaver Map") first issued in 1715, was a basis for the British to counterclaim the French territorial designs after the Spanish Succession War (1702-1713).
He was often copied by other publishers (of which he was very conscious). But, as was customary at that time, he also made good use of the works produced by his peers.
Among his noted productions: "Atlas Manuale" in 1709, "Atlas Geographicus" in 1711, "The world described" in 1719-1736, "A new description of England and Wales" in 1724 in collaboration with T&J Bowles, reissued under various titles in 1726, 1728, 1739, 1747, 1753; and the 1727 "Atlas minor".

A map of Terra Firma. Guiana and the Antilles islands.

This map (9 7/8" X 7 1/16") seems to have been originally prepared around 1716, possibly for a late edition of the Atlas Geographicus.
The present item was printed in 1745 by Thomas Osborne for illustrating his "A collection of voyages and travels".
It shows in great detail the possessions claimed by the european powers (but the border line between the french and spanish zones on Santo Domingo is quite unusual).
Note another strange item: the Florida peninsula is given as part of Louisiana (may be due to an excessive interpretation of the french claim on the Mississippi basin in 1682).
No text on verso.