Allard Map Appraisal

Novissima Totius Orbis Tabula by Carolum Allard

This item is a large-format reproduction of a classic world map originally created by the Dutch cartographer and publisher Carel Allard (Carolum Allard) in the late 17th century, specifically around 1690-1700. The map, titled 'Novissima Totius Orbis Tabula,' features the iconic double-hemisphere projection, common during the Dutch Golden Age of cartography. It is rendered in a polychromatic palette dominated by muted pinks, blues, and earth tones on an off-white or cream-colored paper ground. The map is further embellished with two smaller polar projections located at the top and bottom center, and it is flanked by highly detailed, hand-colored allegorical illustrations depicting the four continents (Europe, Asia, Africa, and America) through mythological figures and indigenous animals. The artwork is presented in an elaborate double-matting with a dark, possibly charcoal or deep brown, outer mat and a beveled inner border. The frame is a substantial, dark wood with a rounded profile and a textured surface that mimics a dark oxblood or espresso leather grain. Physically, the piece appears to be in good condition, housed behind glass. There are no immediate signs of sun bleaching or foxing visible from the provided image, although some minor dust is present on the frame and glass. The print quality suggests it is a modern high-resolution offset lithograph or giclée reproduction rather than an original copperplate engraving, given the lack of visible plate marks and the vibrancy of the multi-tonal ink layering which characterizes contemporary prints of antique maps.