1550 Munster Leaf: China Mongol Empire Marco Polo 2Pics

zoom		zoom
		zoom

1550 Description of Asia from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster
The Tatars, Mongol Empire, the Polos
Two woodcut pictures

Single authentic woodcut leaf from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster. German edition; Basel printing house of Sebastian Heinrich-Petri 1550. Book V ("Von den landern Asie"), pages Mcxlix-Mcl (1149/50).

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. Of about 20 German editions of the Cosmographia, the 1550 edition is the most valued. Click here for the title page of the 1550 German edition (not included).

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 1550 German edition of Cosmographia is devoted to Asia. Page 1149 deals with the Tatars (also spelled Tartars). The name Tatar first appeared among nomadic tribes living in northeastern Mongolia and the area around Lake Baikal from the 5th century AD. After various groups of these Turkic nomads became part of the armies of the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan in the early 13th century, a fusion of Mongol and Turkic elements took place, and the Mongol invaders of Russia and Hungary became known to Europeans as Tatars (or Tartarians). After Genghis Khan's empire broke up, the Tatars became especially identified with the western part of the Mongol domain, which included most of European Russia and was called the Golden Horde. These Tatars were converted to Sunnite Islam in the 14th century. Owing to internal divisions and various foreign pressures, the Golden Horde disintegrated late in the 14th century into the independent Tatar khanates of Kazan and Astrakhan on the Volga River, Sibir in western Siberia, and the Crimea. There exists an early English translation of this section of Casmographia, in the book "A briefe collection and compendious extract of straunge and memorable thinges, gathered out of the Cosmographye of Sebastian Munster. Wherein is made a plaine description of diuers and straunge lawes, rites, maners and properties of sondrye nations, and a short report of straunge histories of diuers men, and of the nature and properties of certaine fovvles, fishes, beastes, monsters, and sondry countryes and places", published in London in 1574 by Tomas Marshe. The section on the Tatars ("A briefe collection of the Tartarians") can be found on pages 72-4.

The second part of the leaf describes the Mongol Empire. In his description of Mongolia and China, Münster relied largely on Marco Polo's ("Marcus Paulus") book "Travels of Marco Polo". He also used other sources. For instance, p. 1050 mentions Matthis vonn Michaw (Marcin z Miechowa; Miechowita; c1457-1523), Polish historian and rector of the Academy of Cracow. In his description, Münster refers to China as Cathay - the name by which North China was known in medieval Europe. The word is derived from Khitay (or Khitan), the name of a seminomadic people who left southeastern Mongolia in the 10th century AD to conquer part of Manchuria and northern China, which they held for about 200 years. By the time of Genghis Khan (died 1227), the Mongols had begun referring to North China as Kitai and South China as "Mangi".

Page 1050 deals with the Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan ("Cingkis Can") and his sons. Münster lists Mongolian rules, including Kublai ("Cublai") Khan, Temur, and Timur (Tamerlane). Kublai Khan (1215-1294) had himself proclaimed great khan in Mongolia. Kublai's reign has been romanticized in the West ever since Marco Polo. Temur ("Tamor Can"; 1267-1307) was a grandson and successor of the great Kublai Khan. He was the last ruler of the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty (1279-1368) to maintain firm control over China, but he never exercised real power over Mongol territories in Russia and the Middle East. Timur (1336-1405; Tamerlane) was a conqueror of Islamic faith, chiefly remembered for the barbarity of his conquests from India and Russia to the Mediterranean Sea and for the cultural achievements of his dynasty. Timur was a member of the Turkicized Barlas tribe, a Mongol subgroup that had settled in Transoxania (now roughly corresponding to Uzbekistan) after taking part in Genghis Khan's son Chagatai's campaigns in that region.

The leaf contains two splendid woodcut pictures:

• A sacrifice of a horse. The respect accorded to horses as the most important animal would extend to their sacrifice for religious and other rituals such as marriages, funerals and memorial feasts. Friar John described in some detail the rituals for a Mongol/Tatar burial: "...They bury with him a mare and her foal and a horse with bridle and saddle, and another horse they eat and fill its skin with straw, and this they stick up on two or four poles, so that in the next world he may have a dwelling in which to make his abode and a mare to provide him with milk, and that he may be able to increase his horses and have horses on which to ride. The bones of the horse which they eat they burn for his soul..."
• A ship

Page measures 8.4 x 12.8 inches. Wide margins suitable for framing. Printed on quality laid paper. The leaf is in good condition. Imperfections: several wormholes; handling in margins, including two tears in the lower margin (repaired). Margins can be covered or trimmed. This is a rare and exceptionally interesting historical document which will look great with a mat and frame.

• This item is unconditionally guaranteed to be original and as described. We do not sell reproductions or copies.
• I am a member of the International Map Collectors' Society (IMCoS) and the Washington Map Society.
• If you have questions about this item, please contact me
• Please read the entire description, view all pictures, and ask any questions before bidding. International Customers: Please read carefully Shipping and Payment conditions below. Thank you!

Shipping Policy

• We will combine shipping on multiple items
• We are not responsible for packages once they enter the postal system. Registration/insurance is strongly recommended for an additional fee
• Postage/handling/insurance charges:
  • US Customers: $5.00 by USPS Priority Mail or, for large-size maps, first class mail in a strong cardboard tube. For insurance, add $1.35 for amounts up to and including $50.00, $2.30 for amounts between 50.01 and 100.00, $3.35 for amounts between 100.01 and 200.00, etc.
  • Canadian Customers: $5.00 by regular airmail. For insurance, consult the International USPS calculator or contact me.
  • Other Customers: $7.00 by regular airmail. For insurance, consult the International USPS calculator or contact me.

Payment Policy

• Please ask any questions regarding payment before bidding
• No cash is accepted
• Payment options:
  • US Customers: Payment may be made by US check, money order, or credit card through PayPal. Item paid by check will be shipped as soon as payment clears, usually within 7 days following receipt. Money order and PayPal payments will be shipped immediately.
  • International Customers: Payment may be made ONLY by cashier's check, international money order or through PayPal.

VORTECPAN MAPS & PRINTS
Old Maps, Woodcut Leaves, Antique Prints
Please click here to check out our other items