NEW DISCOVERIES

This is the engraved title page for the "New Discoveries" (Nova Reperta) series by Johannes Stradanus. The central scene is a workspace or laboratory filled with the great inventions of the modern era. In the top center, a printing press stands prominently. Flanking it are two circular diagrams: on the left, a map of the New World (America) with the names of Amerigo Vespucci and Christopher Columbus; on the right, a wind rose or mariner's compass attributing its invention to Flavio of Amalfi. In the foreground, a large cannon represents gunpowder, a mechanical clock represents horology, distillation equipment represents chemistry, and a branch of guaiacum represents medicine. Two figures frame the image: on the far left, a young man pulling back a curtain to reveal the world; on the far right, an elderly bearded man holding a staff and an Ouroboros (a snake biting its own tail). The bottom of the page includes a numbered legend explaining the various inventions depicted.

The map within the first circle contains the following labels: New France, AMERICA, Florida, New Spain, NORTH SEA, Peru, Brazil, PACIFIC OCEAN, Chica A historical name for the southern region of South America, Land of Fire Tierra del Fuego.