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A fine example of the first generally obtainable world map to include the name "America." It was based Martin Waldseemuler's World map of 1513, which was called "the Admiral's Map" because while showing the first glimmers of the New World (Western Hemisphere) he was correcting the misconception that Amerigo Vespucci should have the lands named after him. From Strassburg in 1522 Laurent Fries issued this reduced version of Waldseemuller's work and placed his own initials at he end of the title, which ran along the top. Fries also added a rope border that intertwined with labels giving the names of the various winds of the world. Historians have complained that he could have easily avoided many errors such as rendering England and Scotland as separate islands and confusing the Indian subcontinent as two peninsulas instead of one. Still, Fries was recording and disseminating the knowledge that was generally available. His information would not be totally obsolete until works benefited by Magellan's voyage would be conveyed by Oronce Fine and Sebastian Munster. The same woodblock was used in Strassburg in 1522 and 1525, in Lyons in 1535, and this printing in 1541. Prior to the last printing a crack developed in the wood block that is evident in the central part of south Asia. $9,500
Sebastian Munster. "Typus Orbis A Ptol. Descriptus." From Cosmographia. Basle, [1540]. Woodcut. 10 x 13 1/2. Full margins. A few old spots at top. Very good condition. Shirley: 76.
A Ptolemaic world map by German cartographer Sebastian Munster. In the Second Century A.D. Ptolemy was the librarian at Alexandria, the greatest center of learning in the ancient world. He wrote two major works, one of which, the Geographia, was the first world atlas. It consisted of Ptolemy's compilation of all known geographic information, including instructions for how to make maps. Rediscovered in the middle ages, Ptolemy's Geography had a huge impact on man's understanding of the world. Such was this influence that even in the sixteenth century, when Ptolemy's geographic conceptions were known to be wrong, maps based on his depictions were issued time and again. It even became the standard practice to issue a double set of maps of each area depicted, one by the Ptolemaic picture and one by the modern picture. This is one of the two world maps first issued by Munster in 1540, and its depiction of Ptolemy's world is fascinating. The then known world, the oikoumene, extends from the Pillars of Hercules to just beyond "India extra Gangen," which probably represented the Indochina peninsula. Africa is depicted as reaching down just to the equator, and the running east until it meets with Asia, creating a land-locked Indian Ocean. The decorative features of this charming woodcut are delightful. The world is surrounded by the twelve ancient winds, and the crude rivers and mole-hill mountains mark this as a sixteenth century publication. This fascinating map gives us a privileged peek at the "classical" understanding of the world. $1,600
Abraham Ortelius. "Typus Orbis Terrarum." From Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Antwerp: 1608. Plate 3, state 1. 14 x 19. Engraving. Full hand color. 5" repaired tear in lower right and other minor wear in margins; some separation at centerfold. Appearance and overall condition is very good. Italian text on verso. 0 Beautifully framed to museum standards. Shirley: 158.
One of the most famous of world maps, from Ortelius' great work, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Initially published in 1570, this volume was the first that could truly be called an "atlas" in the modern sense of a compilation of maps engraved to a uniform format according to the most up-to-date information available. The publication of the Theatrum also marked the inauguration of the era of Dutch supremacy in cartography. For these and other reasons, Ortelius is called the "father of modern cartography." This map, "Typus Orbis Terrarum," is based upon Gerard Mercator's large world map of 1569. Ortelius' atlas project had the blessing and aid of Mercator, who supplied Ortelius with coordinates of places in America. In the north, islands are shown surrounding the North Pole, and separated from America and Asia by a sea passage, the latter a popular belief in the sixteenth century. In the south, a large "Terra Australis Nondum Cognita" is drawn, separated from South America by the "Estrecho di Magallanes."
In 1587 Ortelius updated this seminal map for the third and last time. South America now assumes a more accurate shape, and the Solomon Isles are marked for the first time. The updated map is also distinctive and especially beautiful for the four medallions in the corners with classical texts, two from Cicero and two from Seneca. The border of this map is as well altered, now with a more intricate and elegant lattice of strapwork and swag. Altogether with the embellishments, rich original color and important information, one of the great world maps of all time. $9,500
Abraham Ortelius. "Typus Orbis Terrarum." From Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Antwerp: [1589]. Plate 3, state 1. 14 x 19. Engraving. Tiny hole in decorative border and trimmed to neatline around. Very good condition. Latin text on verso. Shirley: 158.
Another example of Ortelius' world map, this one uncolored. $7,800
Gerhard and Rumold Mercator. "Orbis Terrae Compendiosa Descriptio." From the Mercator-Hondius Atlas. Amsterdam: Jodocus Hondius, [1587-1609]. Engraving. Full hand color. Full margins. Very good condition. Shirley: 157.
Gerard Mercator (1512-1594) ranks as one of the greatest cartographers in history, not only for the extremely fine maps he produced, but also for the innovations which he introduced into cartographic science. Through his constant accumulation of new geographic and cosmological data, Mercator was able to produce the most accurate and current maps of his day, which unlike most of his contemporary's maps were mostly original work. In 1569 Mercator issued his famous map of the world with his new projection, a map that is one of the most important in history. As his great atlas neared completion, Mercator gave the job of drawing the maps of the continents and of the world, based upon his earlier maps, to his son and grandson's. His son, Rumold, was given the world map to complete. This map is the most beautiful of all the Renaissance maps which are decorated in the Mannerist style. The superb fretwork around the hemispheres and the intricacy of the orrery and the compass rose in the middle are indicative of the serious nature of this map which served as a frontispiece and index of the entire body of Mercator's work. A great item of Renaissance art and history. $7,800
Set of four continents after Abraham Ortelius. Venice: I. Giunti, 1640. From G. Botero's Relationi Universali. Copper engravings. 6 7/8 x 9 3/4. Strong impressions. Very good condition.
An interesting series of maps of the continents issued in Giovanni Botero's popular work on the nations of the world. The maps are re-engravings of plates which first appeared in 1582. These plates went through a number of modifications, including the unusual engraved lines which circles the continents on these images, though the basic geography reflects the original rendering after Abraham Ortelius. The geographic myths of the period appear in great abundance. Though somewhat anachronistic depictions when issued, these are still fascinating maps of the seventeenth century and lovely Italian engravings. Set for $2,200
A fine example of Visscher's double hemisphere world map, a decorative masterpiece with attractive original color. The map is noteworthy for the beautiful border decorations designed by Nicolaes Berchem. The four corners of the map are used to illustrate the four basic elements with dramatic classical scenes: fire represented by the rape of Persephone, wind by Zeus carried across the skies in a carriage drawn by eagles, water by Poseidon with his entourage, and earth by Demeter receiving the fruits of the Earth. So popular was this basic design that Visscher had many imitators, making this map a prototype for Dutch world maps for the remainder of the seventeenth century.
The map is also of interest for its geographical content. In the western hemisphere, California is shown as an island, and there is an unusual representation of 'Anian' as a possible island to the north. The Great Lakes are represented by one single lake open ended to the west, and the Mississippi has not yet really made an appearance. In the eastern hemisphere, stippling is used for the first time on a printed map to indicate a desert, just to the west of the Great Wall of China. At top and bottom between the hemispheres are polar projections, the southern of which shows only the tip of South America. Distinctive, aesthetically superb, and a world map prototype, this world map is most desirable. $7,800
Alexis Hubert Jaillot. "Nova Orbis Tabula./Mappe Monde ou Description Du Globe Terrestre & Aquatique." Paris: A.H. Jaillot, 1694. 19 1/4 x 24. Engraving. Original outline color. A small spot at top border and 1" x 1 1/2" replaced section at top of western hemisphere (affecting only lines of latitude and longitude). Otherwise, excellent condition. Shirley: 561.
A rare and spectacular world map by Alexis Hubert Jaillot issued near the end of the seventeenth century. This large world map is quite scarce and is one of the most decorative of the later seventeenth century. Eight large and allegorical figures surround the two hemispheres. In the four corners are figures representing the continents: Europe shown as a Queen surrounded by symbols of power and learning; America as an Indian surrounded by a monkey and parrots, with many ships shown off the horizon; Aisa holding an incense burner sitting next to a camel, and Africa as a African maid sitting under an umbrella by a pyramid and surrounded by and crocodile, lion and elephant. In the center, two at top and two at the bottom, are four virtues. Overall, then, this is a wonderful and rare example of the combination of decoration and information for which world maps of the seventeenth century are famous. $9,250
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