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MAPS AMERICA


Antique map of America by Sebastian Munster (35491)
VIEW ITEM / MORE INFO
VIEW ITEM / MORE INFO
Cartographer : Sebastian Munster
Title : Americæ Sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio. / Die newen Inseln / so hinder Hispania gegen Orient
Date : 1588
Size : 16 1/2in x 14 1/2in (420mm x 355mm)
Description :

By the mid 1580's Sebastian Munster's maps contained within the first recognisable "modern" Atlas Cosmographia were becoming dated and redundant. In 1588 this beautifully hand coloured original antique map of America - The New world - was published in the  revised edition of Cosmographia published by Sebastian Petri, Basle.
Most maps included were based on those of Abraham Ortelius who's atlas was first published in 1570. Those familiar with the maps of Ortelius will instantly recognise the similarity.

Within this map - which is directly based on Ortelius's 1570 1st edition - there is the depiction of discoveries of a number of people, but the general shape is derived from Gerard Mercator's great twenty one sheet world map published in 1569. Ortelius and Mercator had a close relationship and regularly shared openly with each other. One of the main features of this map is the bulbous Chilean coastline; which was not corrected by Ortelius until 1587, although Munster obviously did not have access to this new plate still showing the bulging coast in this 1588 edition. As with the Ortelius map Munster has strategically placed the bottom cartouche hiding the lack of knowledge of the southern waters of the South Pacific. Once through the Straits of Magellan the voyagers sea route took him on an almost direct course for the east Indies. No sight has been made of a large continent but conventional wisdom had it that has to be as much land in the southern hemisphere as in the northern. this was not fully dispelled until the second voyage of the remarkable Captain James Cook in 1772-75. The west coast of North America is shown too far west, as was common at the time.

Sebastian Petri re-release of Cosomgraphia in 1588 produced some fine woodcut maps in the "copperplate style". The maps in this release were more sophisticated than with earlier publications of Cosomgraphia and were based on the 1570 release of Abraham Ortelius monumental work Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. (Ref: Burden; M&B; Tooley)

General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: - Early
Colors used: - Blue, yellow, green, orange
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 16 1/2in x 14 1/2in (420mm x 355mm)
Plate size: - 16 1/2in x 14 1/2in (420mm x 355mm)
Margins: - 1in (25mm)

Imperfections:

Margins: - Age toning, 3 small tears in top & bottom margins
Plate area: - Two very small worm holes
Verso: - Colour showthrough

 

Condition : (A+) Fine Condition

Price :

Ref. No. :

US$2,250.00 SOLD

53491

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