1550 Munster Leaf Denmark Valdemar Great 2 Woodcuts

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1550 Description of the Kingdom of Denmark from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster
Kings of Denmark: Sweyn III, Canute V Magnussen, Valdemar I the Great, and other Kings of Denmark
Two Woodcut Pictures, including one by Heinrich Holzmüller
One Genealogical Tree

One authentic woodcut leaf from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster. German edition; Basel printing house of Sebastian Heinrich-Petri 1550. Book IV ("Von den Mitnachtigen landern"), pages dcccclix-dcccclx (959/60).

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 woodcut leaf from the 1550 German edition of Cosmographia is devoted to the Kings of Denmark. Page 959 (top) describes to the civil war following the death of Niels the Elder (1134) and Eric II Emune (1137). By 1146 the kingdom was divided between the sons of Erik Emune, Magnus the Strong (Niels's son, killed by Erik in 1134), and Knud (Canute) Lavard (duke of South Jutland, brother of Erik, killed by Magnus in 1131). In 1147, Sweyn III ("Sueno"), and Knud (Canute; "Canutus", son of Magnus the Strong) each claimed the Danish throne. After a war, Valdemar received Jutland as his share of Danish territory. When Knud V was assassinated (probably on Sweyn's orders), Valdemar conducted a campaign against King Sweyn III, whom he defeated (1157) in a battle near Viborg. In 1157 Valdemar I the Great was acknowledged as the sole king of Denmark.

Threafter follows description of the Valdemar's reign ("Von dem grossen Waldemaro"). After concluding more than 25 years of civil wars, Valdemar began a series of expeditions against the Wends, aided by his foster brother Absalon, whom he made bishop of Roskilde. By 1169 his forces had captured the Wendish stronghold of Rügen, which was incorporated into the diocese of Roskilde, and had stormed the Wend sanctuary at Arcona ("Arcon in Rugen"). A year later, however, he was forced to divide his gains with his ally Henry the Lion, duke of Saxony. Valdemar's strong rule provoked several rebellions that proved unsuccessful; the most serious (1180) was caused by the policies of Absalon, archbishop of Lund after 1177. The uprising was repressed by Valdemar in 1181. Page 960 (bottom) talks about the period following the death of Valdemar I. There is a genealogical tree of Valdemar I, including Knud VI the Pious, Valdenar II, Eric IV, Abel, Christopher I, Eric V, Eric VI, Christopher II, Valdemar III, Olaf V, and Queen Margaret I.

The leaf contains two woodcut pictures:

• Two kings fighting for a crown. The woodcut, signed "H-H", was designed by Heinrich Holzmüller, famous woodblock cutter working with Münster on Cosmographia.
• Valdemar I the Great

Page measures 8.3 x 12.8 inches. Margins suitable for framing. Printed on quality laid paper. The leaf is in good condition. Imperfections: minor browning; two marginal wormholes, one marginal chip, very far from the printed aree. This is a rare and exceptionally interesting historical document which will look great with a mat and frame.

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