BORDONE MAP OF MADAGASCAR ZANZIBAR AND FICTITIOUS ISLANDS.

MAIDEGASCAR ZANZIBAR

£450

Scarce early map from Benedetto di Bordone’s ‘Isolario’ first published in 1528.

The first ever separate printed maps of Madagascar, Zanzibar & Mauritius and with Ceylon on reverse side.

The top map shows a group of imaginary islands, after Ptolemy. Bordone writes that only women live on Imangla and only men on Inebila; the women went to Inebila solely to procreate, and any male babies were sent to Inebila at the age of three. Bazacata was supposedly populated completely by nudists; Maniole was made of magnetic ore. The bottom map is of Zanzibar and Madagascar.

Uncoloured as issued

Very good condition