Sebastian Münster; 1489-1552.
A true renaissance man, this german linguist and mathematician
(and franciscan) may not have been as good a cartographer
as Gerard Mercator or Abraham Ortelius. But he is generally
credited for having been the first and foremost influence
in the spreading of geographical interest and knowledge throughout
Europe.
His major publications must have been the most read books
of their time (beside religious texts). He expanded on, and
corrected, the work of Martin Waldseemüller, on the basis
of his massive correspondence with numerous german scholars.
Most of his maps were printed using the woodblock technique
of the day.
Of note:
- Geographia in 1540-42-45-52, all in latin, with 27 ptolemaic
maps and 13 (growing to 27 in the last issue) modern maps.
- Cosmographia Universalis in 1544. In 6 volumes, it was also
published by his step son; Henrich Petri, who continued the
printing till 1588, well after Münster death of the plague.
Further editions in 9 volumes by Petri's son (Henri Sebastian)
till 1628 were rushed to print to compete against the more
successful Ortelius atlas, with Ortelius maps instead of Munster's!
All in all: 33 editions, 19 in german, 5 in latin, 6 in french,
2 in italian and 1 in czech.
Sebastian Münster; 1489-1552.
One of the very early maps of Asia, this large woodblock
print (13 7/16" X 10 1/16") was originally prepared as one
of the modern maps for the 1544 Geographia (the first book
ever to show the then known four continents).
The present item is a reprint for a german edition of the
Cosmagraphia circa 1550. As such, it is marked in latin, but
its title above the neat line is in german.
Fascinating details showing a rather limited knowledge of
the land (very quickly corrected in the following years, as
can be seen for instance on the 1570 Asiae nova descriptio
by Ortelius).
Notice:
- Zanzibar is east of Madagascar.
- The Indian subcontinent is way too small.
- Sumatra has inherited the original name of Ceylon: Trapobana.
- Java is in two parts
- Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines etc. are all mingled in a
"7448 island archipelago" (in reference to Marco Polo's accounts).
- a two tail mermaid in lieu of Australia,..
Elaborate title woodblock print on verso.
|
