1550 Munster Leaf: Cartography America Canada 2 Pics
1550 Introduction to Geography
from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster
Cartography, Geography, Thule, Sea Travel, America, Canada
Two Woodcut Pictures
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
xxxix-xl (39-40).
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
deals with principles
of geography and with the sea travel. Page
39 talks about Ptolemy's Geography
and intriduces a number of basic geographical terms such as minute,
latitude and longitude. The text mentions Thyle (Thule).
The island of Thule is described in the account of the travels of
Pytheas of Marseilles, who visited it ca. 330 B.C. The texts indicate
that Pytheas left the British Isles for Thule, crossing from
the Orkades, or Orkney Islands, and from Thule went to the land
of amber. It can be considered certain that the land of amber
was the western shore of the peninsula of Jutland to the north
of the estuary of the Elbe. Most scholars of ancient geography describe this
account as mere fantasy.
Scholars have tried to identify Thule with Iceland, the Shetland Islands,
or an island on the
Norwegian coast between Bergen and Trondheim.
Page 40 deals with sea travel. Münster mentions various islands, including
America (sic!), the Gulf of Paria ("Parias"), Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti),
Zipangri (Cipangu, Japan), Canada ("Francisca"), and
Taprobane (Taprobana, Ceylon). The text also talks about Calicut in India, Arabia,
and Africa. Why is Canada called Francisca?
The famous Münster map of the New Islands (the Americas)
divides North America between France (Francisca)
to the north and Spain ( Terra Florida ) to the south.
The leaf contains
two woodcut pictures:
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Northern Hemisphere with grid formed by
latitudes and longitudes.
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A noble woman taking a ride on a gondole. The
picture has been colored by a contemporary owner.
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: staining and
handling in margins; three marginal wormholes.
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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