Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis - Claes Janszoon Visscher, 1652 (World Map In Color)
Bring one of the most ornate 17th century world maps into your room. Two hemispheres, rich border scenes and warm parchment tones make this world map print a strong focal point that sits well with dark wood, leather and brass in a study or living room.
To learn more about the history of these pieces and how we craft them in our family workshop, feel free to read our full guide to antique map prints.
About this map print
This print is based on Claes Janszoon Visscher’s world map “Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Geographica ac Hydrographica Tabula,” engraved in Amsterdam and dated sixteen fifty-two. It is often called the “Twelve Caesars Map” because the wide top and bottom borders show Suetonius’s twelve Roman emperors on horseback, each in their own panel. Along the sides you see a mix of major cities and costumed figures from different parts of the world, and the corners carry personifications of the four continents, which was typical for high baroque map design. Inside the frame the world is drawn on a Mercator projection with a grid of latitude and longitude lines, combining then-modern discoveries with older ideas such as a large southern continent.
If you are curious about the history behind this piece, we put together a short background on this map for you to read.
Craft & finishEvery replica we make is individually hand-processed in our family workshop. We finish the paper with a traditional beeswax seal to give it a warm, heavy texture. Our team also adds subtle gold paint details by hand to help the artwork truly shine. To complete the look, we hand-burn the edges to give each piece the feel of a true historical artifact.
While our smaller sizes are perfect for gallery walls, our 43x61 cm Large replica is a museum-scale centerpiece. Because of the size, the hand-processing and beeswax application take much longer. This extra time and care ensures that every centimeter of the historic illustration is preserved with a rich, authentic glow.
Find more prints like this in our Antique Maps collection.
Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis (Visscher, 1652.) - Antique World Map
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At Artifex Historical Replicas, we bridge the gap between museum archives and your home. Each piece is a handcrafted historical art print recreated from authentic primary sources, including antique city views and botanical illustrations.
Hand-Processed Paper: We use specialized paper with burned edges and a beeswax finish to replicate the weight and feel of genuine old parchment.
Gilded Details: Our workshop adds subtle real gold accents, bringing the same glow to your walls found in 16th-century illuminated manuscripts.
Custom Sizes & Worldwide Shipping: We offer bespoke sizing for custom frames and ship our historical replicas globally from our family workshop.
Explore our full guide on how we create, display, and restore parchment-style replicas.
