1558 Munster Leaf England Scotland Monarchs 1 Woodcut

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1558 Description of England and Scotland from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster
Kings of England, Description of Scotland
One woodcut picture; one genealogical tree

Single authentic woodcut leaf from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster. German edition; Basel printing house of Sebastian Heinrich-Petri 1558. Book II ("Von Engelland"), pages lxi-lxii (61/2).

Sebastian Münster (1488-1552) was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and Hebrew scholar whose Cosmographia (1544; "Cosmography") was the earliest German description of the world and a major work - after the Nuremberg Chronicle of 1493 - in the revival of geographic thought in 16th-century Europe. Altogether, about 40 editions of the Cosmographia appeared during 1544-1628. Although other cosmographies predate Münster's, he is given first place in historical discussions of this sort of publication, and was a major influence on his subject for over 200 years. Cosmographia contained not only the latest maps and views of many well-known cities, but included an encyclopaedic amount of detail about the known - and unknown - world and undoubtedly must have been one of the most widely read books of its time. Aside from the well-known maps and views present in the Cosmographia (including the first separate printed map of the Western Hemisphere), the text is thickly sprinkled with vigorous woodcuts: portraits of kings and princes, costumes and occupations, habits and customs, flora and fauna, monsters and horrors.

Click here for more information about Münster and Cosmographia, including the content and list of editions and artists

This most interesting authentic leaf from the German edition of Cosmographia is devoted to Britain. Page 61 deals with kings and queens of England. There is a detailed genealogical tree that begins with Edward III, and also contains Edmund Duke of York, Edward the Black Prince, Lionel Duke of Clarence, John of Gaunt Duke of Lancester, Richard II, Henry IV, John Beaufort Earl of Somerset, Henry V, Roger Mortimer Earl of March, Henry VI, Edward Prince of Wales, Edward IV, Richard III, Edward V, Richard Duke of York, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, Jane Seymour, Anne Bolleyn, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. The text covers the period between the reign of Edward VI and Elizabeth I. Page 62 deals with the Kingdom of Scotland, its history, neighbors, and geography. The text mentions the River Tweed ("Tueda"). It contains a nice woodcut picture of the Scottish coat-of-arms, a rampant lion. See pictures for more details; click image to view larger version.

Page measures 8.2 x 12.1 inches. Printed on watermarked laid paper. The leaf is in very good condition. Imperfections: age toning. This is a rare and exceptionally interesting historical document which will look great with a mat and frame.

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