1555 Leaf Rudimentum Novitiorum Britain Abydos Gryphons
1555 Description of Mountains and Islands from "La Mer des Hystoires"
"Des montaignes" - Letters S-Z
"Des ysles" - Letter A-B
Saron, Seon, Semeron, Seyr, Thabor, Ysrael, Yperborees, Ziph, Aradia,
Archadia, Abidos, Britain
Beautiful woodcut initials of varying sizes
Single authentic woodcut leaf from
"Rudimentum Novitiorum - La Mer des Hystoires", French edition, 1555 Paris,
Arnouel Langellier. Printed in
a bastarde typeface,single column,
"Second aage; du monde avant Jesuchrist"
The encyclopedic world history
structured on medieval theology, Rudimentum Novitiorum, became
better known through French translations under the title "La Mer des Hystoires".
Rudimentum Novitiorum was first printed in Lübeck by Lucas (Lukas) Brandis
in 1475. The were several sixteenth-century editions of the
"La Mer des Hystoires" (printed
in Lyon and Paris).
In short, the Rudimentum was a comprehensive history of the world derived from the Bible,
the Church Fathers, pagan mythology and compilations such as that of Vincent of
Beauvais, offering the basics of historical knowledge to young clerics.
For the
chronological arrangement use has been made of genealogical charts which are
illustrated with portraits and scenes, including the first printed map of the
world and the map of Palestine - the earliest modern printed map
(see "The Earliest Printed Maps" by Tony Campbell, University of California Press, 1987).
This authentic woodcut
leaf from the late edition of "La Mer des Hystoires" is devoted to
mountains. The page contains several
sections describing, in alphabetic order, various mountains and mountai chains.
Each section begins with a decorative woodcut initial.
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De Saron (Sharon) - a mountain in the
the Samarian Hills of central Israel
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De Seon (Mountain of Seon).
Seon was the king of the Amorites, an ancient Semitic-speaking people
who dominated the history of Mesopotamia, Syria, and Palestine from
about 2000 to about 1600 BC.
-
De Semeron (Mountain of St. Sebastian)
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De Seyr -
the chain of Seir or Edom, on the
confines of Idumea. It was one of the stations of the
Israelites in the wilderness, which they reached in the circuitous
route they were obliged to take because the Edomites refused them a passage
through their territory. It was during the encampment here that Aaron died.
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De Thabor (Mount Tabor).
Hebrew Har Tavor, Arabic Jabal At-tur, historic elevation of
northern Israel, in Lower Galilee near the edge of the Plain of Esdraelon.
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De Ysrael (Mountains of Israel).
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Des yperborees (Mountains of Hyperborea).
In Greek mythology, according to tradition, the Hyperboreans were a
mythical people who lived to the far north of Greece. Their land,
called Hyperborea, or Hyperboria ("beyond the Boreas; north wind"),
was perfect, with the sun shining twenty-four hours a day.
Large quantities of gold were there, guarded by the griffins (gryphons):
"The griffin is a beast with wings, and is four footed: and
breedeth in the mountains Hyperborean, and is like to the lion in all
the parts of the body, and to the eagle only in the head and wings.
And griffins keep the mountains in which be gems and precious stones,
and suffer them not to be taken from thence." (Bartholomew Anglicus)
Hyperborea was inhabited by panthers, hyenas, and tigers.
-
De Ziph.
When David became a member of Saul's household and won many victories
against the Philistines, he and Jonathan became close friends. After
Saul jealously turned against David, Jonathan attempted to reconcile
them, but he was only briefly successful. Saul tried to enlist
Jonathan's aid to kill David, but Jonathan remained David's friend and
warned him of Saul's anger so that David hid. When the two met for the
last time in the Wilderness of Ziph (which lies south of
the Dead Sea and Hebron),
they planned that David would be the next king of Israel and Jonathan his minister.
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Aradia - an island close to Tyre,
town on the Mediterranean coast of southern Lebanon
-
De Archadie - Arkadia (in the Ionian Sea)
-
De Abidos - Abydos.
Abydos was situated at the narrowest point of the Hellespont, and was
famous as the legendary spot where Leander swam over to Sestus to visit
his lover, Hero.
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De Bretaigne ou Angleterre - Britain
See scans for more details; click image to view larger version.
Page measures 8.3 x 12.8 inches. Wide margins suitable
for framing. Printed on quality laid paper.
The leaf is in good condition.
Imperfections: age toning.
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.
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I am a member of
the International Map Collectors' Society (IMCoS)
and
the Washington Map Society.
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