1550 Munster Leaf: Old Testament Genesis Paradise
1550 Old Testament
from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster
The Book of Genesis; Paradise in Christianity and Judaism
One Woodcut Picture
Single authentic woodcut leaf from
"Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster. German edition; Basel printing
house of Sebastian Heinrich-Petri 1550. Book I ("Das erst buch"), pages
xliii-xliiii (43-44).
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 the
Old Testament, namely to
the Terrestial Paradise, or Garden of Eden.
According to the Old Testament Book of Genesis, Eden was
the biblical earthly paradise inhabited by the
first created man and woman, Adam and Eve, prior to their expulsion for
disobeying the commandments of God. It is also called in Genesis the Garden of
Yahweh, the God of Israel, and, in Ezekiel, the Garden of God.
According to the Genesis story of the creation and fall of man, out of Eden,
east of Israel rivers flowed to the four corners of the world.
In the Middle Ages, it was conjectured that the Garden of Eden was still in
existence (was placed somewhere in the Orient!)
and its whereabouts could be discovered. The text discusses the concept of
paradise in Christianity and Judaism.
The leaf contains
one woodcut picture of The Garden of Eden.
See scans for more details; click image to view larger version.
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: three small marginal wormholes; minor soiling
and handling in margins.
This is a rare and exceptionally interesting historical document which
will look great with a mat and frame.
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This item is unconditionally guaranteed to be original and as described. We do not sell reproductions or
copies.
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I am a member of
the International Map Collectors' Society (IMCoS)
and
the Washington Map Society.
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If you have questions
about this item, please
contact me
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