1550 Munster Leaf Italy Rome Lucretia Suicide Caesar
1550 Description of Italy
from "Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster
Roman Republic, Lucretia, Roman Empire, Julius Caesar
Three woodcut pictures
Single authentic woodcut leaf from
"Cosmographia" by Sebastian Münster. German edition; Basel printing
house of Sebastian Heinrich-Petri 1550. Book II ("Von Italia"), pages
ccxxxiii-ccxxxiiii (233-4).
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
Italy.
Page 233 talks about the early historical period
of Rome, the Etruscans, and Romulus ("Romulo") and Remus ("Remo").
Thereafter folows the story of Lucretia - legendary heroine of ancient
Rome. According to tradition, she was the beautiful and virtuous wife of
the nobleman Lucius Tarquinius Collatinus. Her tragedy began when she
was raped by Sextus Tarquinius, son of Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the
tyrannical Etruscan king of Rome. After exacting an oath of vengeance
against the Tarquins from her father and her husband, she stabbed
herself to death. Lucius Junius Brutus then led the enraged populace in
a rebellion that drove the Tarquins from Rome. The event (traditionally
dated 509 BC) marks the foundation of the Roman Republic.
Page 234 talks about the Consuls of the Roman Republic
and the expansion of Rome in Europe and Africa (Carthage).
It mentions Germanic tribes and their struggle with the Romans.
Finally, the leaf covers the reign of Gaius Julius Caesar - one of the
most influential men in world history. He played a critical role in the
transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire.
The leaf contains three interesting
woodcut pictures:
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A king with his court
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The suicide of Lucretia
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The bridge over the Rhine
See pictures 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: minor marginal browning, one marginal wormhole.
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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