Central America--[The Nicaragua Canal.

Mayor, S. The Letts Guide to Collecting Fans, p.50

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An extremely decorative fan of Central America with the lake of Nicaragua. On the left Mercury points out the course of a proposed canal to allegories of the Continents, and to the right the King of Spain listens to Fame urging him to complete the canal. The margins are decorated with a frieze of ships and tritons and a summary of Martin de la Bastides's proposals for the canal. It was never built, but instead a canal through Panama was constructed some 120 years later, which took a steeper but shorter route to the south.

Copies of the leaves of this fan are in the British Museum and the Bibliothèque Nationale. Examples of the fan itself can be found in the Lennox-Boyd Collection and the British Museum (defective).