This beautifully hand coloured
original antique map of central and NE Africa - the land
of the Mythical Prestor John - was published in the 1631
French edition of Joan Blaeus Atlas Novus.
Rumours of the mythical Emperor Prestor John began in
Europe around 1150AD, that somewhere in Asia there was
a powerful Christian Emperor named Presbyter Johannes
(with the court title of Gurkhan), who had founded the
kingdom of Kara Khitai. He had broken the power of the
Musselman in his own domain after a fierce and bloody
fight. The mysterious Priest-King became a symbol of
hope in the Christian world beset by Mongol hordes. Pope
Alexander III resolved to make contact with Presbyter
John, and his first step was to address a letter to him
(dated 27th September 1177). The Pope's physician was
dispatched to deliver the letter in person. He never
returned. Pope Innocent IV was even more determined
than his predecessor, and decided to convert the
Barbarians instead of conquer them. Dominican and
Franciscan missionaries as well as civil ambassadors of
peace plodded back and forth between the Pope, the King
of France and the Mogul Khan. These travelers soon
learned that His Highness Presbyter Johannes and the
Christian kingdom in deepest Asia were popular myths.
But the popular fancy was not easily dispelled, and
instead of allowing the bubble to be punctured, the
people merely transferred the kingdom of Presbyter John
to Africa - especially Abyssinia. No-one knew very much
about Abyssinia. A few die hards like John de Plano
Carpini and Marco Polo persisted in the belief that
Presbyter John still reigned in his splendor deep in the
heart of the Orient. On the larger map in Higdens
Polychronicon the empire of
Presbyter John was located in the lower Scythia within
the limits of Europe, but the map of Marino Sanuto it
was placed in further India. It was moved again to
Central Asia and ended up in Abyssinia. The legend
persisted, however, and four hundred years after Pope
Alexander III wrote his letter to Presbyter Johannes,
Abraham Ortelius, a Dutch map publisher issued a
separate map titled Presbyteri Johannis Siv
Abissinorum Iperii Descripto .(Ref: M&B, Tooley; Norwich) (Ref: Tooley; M&B)
General Description:
Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: - Original
Colors used: - Yellow, pink, red, blue, green
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 22in x 19in (560mm x 485mm)
Plate size: - 19 3/4in x 15 1/2in (500mm x 395mm)
Margins: - Min 1in (25mm)
Imperfections:
Margins: - None
Plate area: - None
Verso: - Small repair to bottom margin, no loss
|