DAS ERST GENERAL INHALTEND DIE BESCHREIBUNG ..
£1950
Superb example of the second edition of Münster's map of the world, one of the most recognized and influential world maps of the sixteenth century. Today, it is one of the earliest obtainable world maps. This example is from the second woodblock, which featured in editions of Cosmographia from 1550 to 1578, with significant graphic revisions from the first edition.
The map is richly embellished with a dozen wind-heads blowing their gales from a cloud border. The blowing cherubs do not intrude into the oval of the projection, as they did in the first state. The other easily noticeable change is the inclusion of the letters DK in the clouds in the lower left corner. These are the initials of the engraver, David Kandel.
Sea monsters frolic in the Southern Ocean, where no large continent is hypothesized to hide. Instead, a small unlabeled landmass lies south of the Straits of Magellan, which were discovered less than two decades before this map was produced.
North America is broken up, with the bulk of the continent at the left and the west coast appearing briefly on the right side of the oval projection. Münster is non-committal as to the continuity of North and South America; an unbroken Central America is implied but is not clearly shown thanks to the curve of the projection.
Interestingly, all of North America is called Terra Florida. Also of interest, one of the main differences between this second state and the first is a lack of labels in North America.
Good strong impression
Professionally lined with archival paper no loss or repairs.
Excellent professionally hand coloured
Ver good condition
Sebastian Münster: Das erst General, inhaltend die beschreibung und den Circkel des gantzen Erderichs und Möre.
16th century woodcut map of the world. Printed in Basle by Heinrich Petri
Referenc Shirley, R. W.: The Mapping of the World, No. 92
code : M5578
Cartographer : Sebastian Munster
Date : 1561 Basel
Size : 26.5 *38.5 cms Sheet size 31*41 cms
availability : Available
Price : £1950
Originally a scholar studying Hebrew, Greek and mathematics, Sebastian Munster (1489-1552) eventually specialised in mathematical geography and cartography. It was this double ability - as a classicist and mathematician - that was to prove invaluable when Munster set himself to preparing new editions of Solinus’ “Memorabilia” and Mela’s “De Situ Orbis”, two classical descriptive geographies containing maps, and his own two greatest works, the “Geographia” and “Cosmographia”. These reflect the widespread interest in classical texts, which were being rediscovered in the fifteenth century, and being disseminated in the later fifteenth and sixteenth century, through the new medium of printing.
The “Geographia” was a translation of Ptolemy’s landmark geographical text, compiled in about 150 AD., illustrated with maps based on Ptolemy’s calculations, but also, in recognition of the increased geographical awareness, contains a section of modern maps. In the first edition of the “Geographia”, Munster included 27 ancient Ptolemaic maps and 21 modern maps, printed from woodblocks. Subsequent editions of the “Cosmographia” were to contain a vast number of maps and plans.
One consequence of Munster’s work was the impetus it gave to regional mapping of Germany, but Munster was also the first cartographer to produce a set of maps of the four continents on separate maps. Most importantly, through his books (the “Geographia” and “Cosmographia” alone ran to over forty editions in six languages), Munster was responsible for diffusing the most up-to-date geographical information throughout Europe.
