Archive of Early Maps
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Sevilla.
Cologne, c.1598. 380 x 500mm. Coloured. Trimmed to printed border on right.
Prospect of Seville, provided for Braun & Hogenberg by Hofnagle, showing the Cathedral, Roman aqueduct, remains of the Alcázar and, in the foreground, the Mattadero. Of more interest are the vignettes of life in the foreground, obviously witnessed by Hofnagle: bull-fighting in the road, washing clothes in the river, and a boneyard. However the focus is a man and woman on donkeys being ridiculed, the man with cuckold's horns, the woman half-naked and apparently surrounded by flies. The onlookers also make the sign of the cuckold's horns with their fingers, and one stoops to pick up a stone. The inference is that the pair are a woman of easy virtue and her husband/procuror. BRAU0063
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Staden.
Cologne, c.1598. 390 x 505mm. Coloured. Narrow margins due to the size of the map.
Stade in Germany, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0064
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Stockholm; Stocholm.
Cologne, 1588-. 325 x 470mm. Coloured.
Two prospects of Stockholm from the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0065
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Argentoratum. Strassburg.
Cologne, c.1572. 335 x 420mm. Lightly age-toned.
Strasbourg, published in the first atlas of townplans, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum. BRAU0066
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Toletum.
Cologne, c.1598. 380 x 505mm. Coloured.
Toledo, the cathedral city of Spain, with insets of the Alcázar (the old Moorish citadel) and the cathedral. One of the most decorative plates from the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum'. BRAU0068
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Toletum; Vallisoletum.
Cologne, 1572-. 330 x 475mm. Coloured. Evidence of a crack in the printing plate in the lower edge.
Prospects of Toledo and Valladolid from the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0069
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Topographia Insulæ Huenæ...
Cologne, 1588. 345 x 485mm. Coloured.
The island of Ven in the Oresund. The island's importance was due to Tycho Brahe's observatory at Uranienborg, pictured in an inset top left. BRAU0070
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Magnifica Illa Civitas Verona; Verona...
Cologne, c.1580. 360 x 470mm. Coloured.
A prospect and a plan of Verona, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0071
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Vilna Lithuaniae Metropolis.
Cologne, 1581. 370 x 500mm. Coloured.
Vilnyus, from the 'Civitated Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0072
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[Decorative map of the Azores] Abraham Ortelius.
Açores Insulae.
Antwerp, Plantin, 1592. Latin text edition. 330 x 465mm. Coloured.
A decorative map of the Azores with three large strapwork cartouches, two galleons and sea-monster KOEMAN: Ort 27b. ORTE0002
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Abraham Ortelius.
Schlavoniæ, Croatiae, Carniae, Istriae, Bosniae, Finitimarumque Regionem Nova Decsriptio, Auctore Augustino Hirsvogelio.
Antwerp, c.1598. 340 x 465mm. Coloured.
The northern Balkans, based on the map by Augustin Hirschvogel, 1565. ORTE0003
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Abraham Ortelius.
Angliae, Scotiae, et Hiberniae, sive Britannicar: Insularum Descriptio.
Antwerp, 1595. Latin text edition. 345 x 495mm. Coloured.
The British Isles, orientated with north to the right. ORTE0005
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Abraham Ortelius.
Chinae, olim Sinarum regionis, nova descriptio. Auctore Ludovico Georgio.
Antwerp, c.1589, German text edition. 370 x 470mm. Coloured. Small marginal tears expertly repaired.
A good example of this decorative map of China, orientated with north to the right. Besides the three ornamental cartouches there are galleons, land-yachts, sea-monsters, elephants and nomads' tents. Both the Philippines and Japan are depicted, although both are unrecognisable. ORTE0006
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Abraham Ortelius.
Hollandiæ...
Antwerp, 1598, French text edition. 455 x490mm.
Holland, after Jacob van Deventer. Deventer produced over 300 townplans of Holland, used by both Munster and Braun & Hogenberg. ORTE0007
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[Fine Map of Ireland] Abraham Ortelius.
Eryn. Hiberniae, Britannicae Insulæ, Nova Descriptio. Irlandt.
Antwerp, 1588. 355 x 480mm. Coloured.
Ireland by Ortelius, orientated with north to the right. A cornerstone of any collection of maps of Ireland. This example comes from the first Spanish text edition, published the year of the Spanish Armada. About Lake Erno, Gyraldus Cambrensis writes that "it was once a spring, but because the inhabitants shamefully venerated beasts, God became angry and caused such a flood to break out, that the entire area, including its people, were submerged by this inundation. And if these matters still contain the Truth, it is now a quiet time, although I can still see the towers of the Temples under the waves". VAN DEN BROECKE: 22; KOEMAN: Ort 23. ORTE0010
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Abraham Ortelius.
Irlandia.
Antwerp, 1589, Latin text edition. 80 x 110mm.
An example of the Galle plate, the first to be used in the 'Epitome'. Orientated with north to the right, the title is within a heart-shaped cartouche. ORTE0011
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Abraham Ortelius.
Malta.
Antwerp, 1590. 80 x 110mm. Coloured.
Miniature map of Malta, decorated with ships and a sea-monster. ORTE0012
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Abraham Ortelius.
Poloniae, Lithuaniæq. Descriptio.
Antwerp, c.1590. 370 x 485mm. Coloured.
Poland & Lithuania. ORTE0014
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[Early Ortelius Poland] Abraham Ortelius.
Poloniae finitimarumque locorum descriptio. Auctore Wenceslao Godreccio Polono.
Antwerp, 1571 or 1573, Latin text edition. 375 x 495mm. Coloured.
An early example of Ortelius's first map of Poland & Lithuania, first issued 1570 and replaced 1595. ORTE0015
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[Classic Ortelius Russia with exotic inhabitants] Abraham Ortelius.
Russiae Moscoviae et Tartariae Descriptio.
Antwerp, 1581, French text edition. 350 x 450mm. Coloured. Tiny pinhole on the centrefold otherwise very good example.
Ortelius based this map of Russia on that of Anthony Jenkinson, an English merchant and visitor 1557-60, an example of which was recently discovered in Poland. Further east, where the information gets more sketchy, the spaces are filled with vignettes of the exotic inhabitants. KOEMAN: Ort 18. ORTE0017
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Abraham Ortelius.
Septentrionalium regionum descriptio.
Antwerp, 1595. 80 x 110mm. Faint damp staining at the top of the map.
Miniature map of Scandinavia, but also showing the north Atlantic, including British Isles, Iceland, Greenland and the mythical island of Friesland. 'Top left is Americae Pars'. BURDEN: 49. ORTE0018
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Abraham Ortelius.
Scotiæ Tabula.
Antwerp, 1595. Latin text edition. 355 x 480mm. Coloured.
Scotland, orientated with north to the right, with a large strapwork title cartouche. A classic collector's map. ORTE0019
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Benedetto Bordone.
[Taprobana.]
Venice, c.1547. Woodcut, image size 195 x 150mm.
The mythical island of Taprobana, first mentioned by Pliny. At various times it was associated with Sri Lanka and Sumatra, but it predates knowledge of either. Published in Bordone's 'Isolario'. BORD0001
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Aden, Arabiæ Foeicis emporum celeberrimi nominis...; Mombaza; Quiloa; Cefala.
Cologne, c.1572. 340 x 475mm. Coloured.
Four map-views on one sheet, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed town plans. The views are of four of the most important ports in the Indian Ocean: the upper half of the sheet is dedicated to Aden, with Mombasa (Kenya), Kilwa (Tanzania) & Sofala (Beira, Mozambique) underneath. KOEMAN: B&H 2. BRAU0001
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Antwerpia.
Cologne, c.1572. 320 x 480mm. Coloured.
Bird's-eye view of Antwerp, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0004
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[Townplan of Barcelona] Braun & Hogenberg.
Barcelona. Eçiia.
Cologne, c.1572. 330 x 480mm. Coloured.
Views of Barcelona and Eçija (the Roman town of Augusta Firma), published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0006
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Bilvao.
Cologne, 1575-. 285 x 485mm. Coloured. Narrow lateral margins.
Prospect of Bilbao from the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0007
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[Early townplan Brussels] Braun & Hogenberg.
Bruxella...
Cologne, c.1572. 335 x 475mm. Coloured.
Map-view of Brussels, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0011
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Burgos...; Sanct. Sebastianum...
Cologne, c.1572. 330 x 475mm. Coloured.
Two bird's-eye views, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans: Burges & San Sebastian in Spain. BRAU0013
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Cairus, Quae olim Babylon; Aegypti Maxima Urbs.
Cologne, c.1572. 335 x 485mm. Margins lightly age-toned.
Cairo, published in the first atlas of townplans, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum. Outside the city walls can be seen the Sphinx and the pyramids. BRAU0014
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Cantebrigia...
Cologne, 1588. 335 x 445mm. Coloured.
A map-view of Cambridge with a 19-point key, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. The important buildings, including the colleges, are shown in profile. BRAU0015
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Caprarola Arx et Horti Farnesiani.
Cologne, c.1598. 395 x 510mm. Original colour. Narrow top margin due to the size of the plate.
One of the few plates in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum' not of a town. This plate depicts the castle and gardens of the Farnesi family, near Viterbo, north of Rome. BRAU0016
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Chios Maris Aegæi eius dem nominis Insulae Civitas.
Cologne, c.1588. 325 x 465mm. Coloured.
The town of Chios, published in the first atlas of townplans, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum. Around the town are defensive towers and windmills, with galleys and galleons filling the seas. BRAU0017
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Illustris civitatis Conimbriae in Lusitania ad flumen Ilhundam effigies.
Cologne, c.1598. 295 x 465mm. Coloured.
Coimbra in Portugal, published in the first atlas of townplans, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum. BRAU0019
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Damascus, urbs nobilissima ad Libanum montem, Totius Syriæ Metropolis.
Cologne, c.1575. 320 x 360mm. Original colour.
Bird's-eye view of Damascus, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. In the foreground are three figures in local dress and a camel. A fine example of original colour. BRAU0021
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Dordrecht.
Cologne, c.1581. 335 x 465mm. Coloured.
Map-view of Dordrecht, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0022
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Dresden; Leibzigk.
Cologne, 1572. 320 x 475mm. Coloured.
Two map- views of German towns, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans: Dresden and Leipzig. BRAU0023
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Gorlitz.
Cologne, c.1575. 305 x 495mm. Coloured.
Published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0029
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Vera Designatio Urbis in Littavia Grodnae.
Cologne, c.1575. 310 x 480mm. Coloured.
Grodno (now Hrodna in Belarus), published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. In 1562 a summit was held between the Russians and the Ottomans in the city: in the foreground are two opulently-dressed figures shaking hands, with their troops of cavalry behind them. BRAU0030
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Helsheborch; Lunden; Elbogen; Landeskron.
Cologne, 1588. 335 x 385mm. Coloured.
Four bird's-eye views towns on the Øresund coast of Sweden, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. They are: Helsingborg, Malmö, Lund & Landskrona. BRAU0033
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Husemum Ducatus Slesvicensis ad Sinum Heveram opp; Haderslebia...
Cologne, 1598. 350 x 455mm. Coloured. Pair of wormholes in the bottom margin.
Two map- views towns in Schleswig, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans: Husem (now Germany) & Haderslev (Denmark). BRAU0034
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[Map of La Rochelle] Braun & Hogenberg.
Rochella Munitissimum Galliæ Opp.
Cologne, c.1575. 320 x 355mm.
La Rochelle, the famous French sea-port and fortress. Published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0037
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[Map of Lisbon] Braun & Hogenberg.
Olissippo, quæ nunc Lisboa, civitas amplissima Lusitaniæ...
Cologne, c.1598. 370 x 470mm. Coloured.Small one cm restoration at centre.
Prospect of Lisbon from the sea, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum' the first series of printed townplans. The important buildings are shown in profile, with an extensive key under the map. It is decorated with ships in the foreground and a pair of crests in the sky. BRAU0040
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Lisbona; Cascale Lusitaniæ opp.
Cologne, c.1598. 370 x 470mm. Coloured.
Two prospects on one sheet, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum' the first series of printed townplans. On top is Lisbon from the sea, which is full of ships; underneath is the coastline between Cascais and 'Betheleem', at the mouth of the Tagus. BRAU0041
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Traiectum ad Mosam.
Cologne, 1575-. 335 x 410mm. Full original colour. Tiny pinhole in map area.
Plan of Maastricht in Holland, published in the second volume of the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. In the foreground are a two figures in local dress. The quality of the original colour makes this a superior example. BRAU0043
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Vegel; Velis Malaga.
Cologne, 1572-. 335 x 485mm. Coloured.
Prospects of Veger and Malaga from the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0044
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Mantua.
Cologne, c.1575. 365 x 500mm. Coloured.
Mantova, published in the first atlas of townplans, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum. BRAU0045
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Messana, Urbs est Sicilie maxima...
Cologne, c.1588. 345 x 485mm. Old red rule outside the printed border.
Prospect of Messina, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans, with a 167-point key underneath. BRAU0046
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Messana, Urbs est Sicilie maxima...
Cologne, c.1572. 345 x 490mm. Coloured.
Prospect of Messina, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans, with a 167-point key underneath. BRAU0047
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Braun & Hogenberg.
[Mola.]
Cologne, c.1581. 395 x 430mm. Fine original colour.
Mola di Bari (in the Gulf of Gaeta near Naples), published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. Of interest are the two figures standing in the foreground: one is Georg Hofnagle, a major contributor of plans for the book; the other is Abraham Ortelius the creator of the first standard atlas. BRAU0049
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Moscavw. Moscovia...
Cologne, 1575. 350 x 490mm. Coloured. Tiny hole in platemark.
The first version of the Moscow map to appear in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', showing little more than the Kremlin. BRAU0050
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Namurcum...
Cologne, c.1575. 350 x 440mm. Coloured. Faint printer's crease.
Map-view of Namur, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0052
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Noviomagium sive Noviomagu vulgo Nÿmmegen...
Cologne, 1575-. 295 x 480mm. Full original colour. Three repairs in top margin, not affecting map area, split in centrefold repaired.
Nijmegen in Holland, published in the second volume of the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. In the foreground are several figures in local dress. The quality of the original colour makes this a superior example. BRAU0054
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Freti Danici or Sundt Accuratiss Delineatio.
Cologne, c.1588. 330 x 480mm. Coloured.
Although this map was published in the first atlas of townplans, the Civitates Orbis Terrarum, it is a map-view of the Øresund, the strait between Denmark and Sweden. Looking down from above Helsingør, the Swedish towns of Helsingborg and Landskrona can be seen on the far shore. Bottom right is 'Hafnia pars', i.e. part of Copenhagen. All the towns are depicted much larger than actual scale in order to show details of buildings. BRAU0055
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Palacios; Alcanerilla; Cabecas.
Cologne, c.1598. 370 x 495mm. Original colour.
Three map-views on one sheet, published 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed town plans. The three views were drawn by George Hofnagel, who travelled through Andalucia in 1565, and he depicts himself sitting on a rock sketching Cabeças. BRAU0056
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Lutetia, vulgari nomine Paris...
Cologne, c.1572. 345 x 475mm. Coloured.
A map-view of Paris, with the important buildings shown in profile without any attempt at perspective, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0057
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Praga, Bohrmiae Metropolis Accuratissime Expressa. Egra...
Cologne, c.1598. 340 x 475mm. Coloured.
Two prospects on one sheet: Prague and Cheb, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0059
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Braun & Hogenberg.
Roterodamum, Hollandiae in Ostio Roteri flu...
Cologne, c.1588. 290 x 400mm. Original colour. Paper evenly age-toned overall.
Bird's-eye view of Rotterdam, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0060
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[Townplan of Santander in Spain] Braun & Hogenberg.
Santander.
Cologne, c.1572. 330 x 475mm. Coloured.
A bird's-eye view, published in the 'Civitates Orbis Terrarum', the first series of printed townplans. BRAU0061
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Tabula Asiae VI.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's Ptolemaic map of Arabia, engraved by Girolamo Porro. MAGI0005
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Britanicæ Insulæ.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's 'modern' map of the British Isles, engraved by Girolamo Porro. SHIRLEY: 192. MAGI0006
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Tabula Europae Prima.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
The Ptolemaic map of the British Isles, with Scotland slanting to the east and Ireland too far north. Engraved by Girolamo Porro. SHIRLEY: 191. MAGI0008
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Candia Insula, Olim Creta.
Venice, 1596. 140 x 180mm.
Crete, with a representation of the Labyrinth in the centre of the island. MAGI0010
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Cypri Insula.
Venice, 1596. 140 x 180mm.
Cyprus, after Ortelius. MAGI0011
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Tabula Asiae X.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's Ptolemaic map of India, engraved by Girolamo Porro. MAGI0013
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Tabula Asiae XI .
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's Ptolemaic map of the Malay Peninsula, engraved by Porro. MAGI0014
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Belgium, seu Germania Inferior.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Holland & Belgium within a decorative border, engraved by Girolamo Porro. MAGI0015
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[Taprobana] Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Tabula Asiae XII.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's Ptolemaic map of Taprobana, sometimes associated with either Sri Lanka or Sumatra, but most likely entirely fictional. MAGI0020
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[Tartary] Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Tartariae Imperium.
Venice, 1596. 135 x 180mm. Set in a page of text.
Map of Tartary, from the Caspian Sea to the Bering Straits, with North America as far as California and an unrecognisable Japan. MAGI0021
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[Turkey of Ptolemy] Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Tabula Asiae I.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's Ptolemaic map of Turkey, engraved by Girolamo Porro. MAGI0023
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Turcici Imperii Descriptio.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 185mm. Small marginal tear taped.
The Turkish Empire, covering Greece, the Caucasus and Arabia. MAGI0024
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Universi Orbis Descriptio.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's 'modern' world map, on an oval projection, engraved by Girolamo Porro after Ortelius, with wind heads around the border. SHIRLEY: 195. MAGI0026
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Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Universi Orbis Descriptio ad Usum Navigatium.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's sea chart of the world, engraved by Girolamo Porro after Mercator. SHIRLEY: 196. MAGI0027
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[World map of Ptolemy] Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Ptolemæi Typus.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's Ptolemaic world map, the old world, engraved by Girolamo Porro. SHIRLEY: 193. MAGI0028
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[Ptolemaic map of the Balkans.] Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Tabula Europae IX.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm.
Magini's Ptolemaic map of the Balkans, engraved by Girolamo Porro. MAGI0029
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[Map of Germany.] Giovanni Antonio Magini.
Germania.
Venice, Heirs of Simon Galignani, 1596. First edition. 140 x 180mm. Coloured.
Engraved by Girolamo Porro. MAGI0033
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Sebastian Munster.
India Extrema XXIIII Nova Tabula.
Basle, c.1560. Woodcut, printed area 295 x 380mm. Slight damp staining in upper corners.
Munster's 'modern' map of Asia, with Sumatra also marked 'Taprobana'. The Philippines appear as 'Archipelagus 7448 insularu', while Japan is omitted completely. MUNS0004
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Sebastian Munster.
Gierusalemme citta santa Metropoli gia del regno Guidaico & hoggi colonia del Turco.
Basle, c.1575, Italian text edition. Woodcut, image size 155 x 380, set in a page of text.
Double-page imaginary view of Jerusalem, published in Munster's 'Cosmography'. MUNS0010
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Sebastian Munster.
Gotlandt oder Gothen.
Basle, c.1580. Woodcut, printed area 100 x 140mm, set in a page of text.
Norway, Sweden & Finland. MUNS0012
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Sebastian Munster.
La Cosmographie Universelle...
Basle, 1552. Letterpress with woodcut illustration with original colour. Printed area 280 x 150mm. Some wear.
Titlepage to a French edition of Munster's 'Cosmography', with an illustration of two surveyors using a pair of compasses and an astrolabe. Original colour is uncommon on Munster's works. MUNS0014
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[Diagrammatic map of the British Isles] Sebastian Munster.
[The British Isles.]
Basle, c.1560. Coloured. Woodcut, printed area 80 x 135mm, set in text. A slight damp stain in margin.
An early map of the United Kingdom & Ireland, with Scotland depicted as an island. Only two cities are named, Edinburgh and Dover, although buildings are shown for London, Westminster and Dublin. SHIRLEY: 51. MUNS0020
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Abraham Ortelius.
Cambriae Typus Auctore Humfredo Lhuydo Denbigiense Cambrobritano.
Antwerp, 1595. Latin text edition. 370 x 495mm. Coloured.
The first published map of Wales, after Humphrey Lluyd, who was born in Denbigh and later represented the county in Parliament. ORTE0021
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Abraham Ortelius.
Hispaniolae, Cubae, Aliarumque Insularum Circumiacentium, Deliniatio; Culiacanae, Americae Regionis, Descriptio.
Amsterdam, 1595. Latin text edition. 355 x 495mm. Coloured.
Two maps on one sheet: one of the first printed maps of the West Indies, with the Bahamas; and Culican, in the mouth of Baia Califronia. ORTE0022
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Abraham Ortelius.
Typus Orbis Terrarum.
Antwerp, 1570-. 340 x 500. Coloured. Pair of tiny worm holes in the cloud borders.
One of the most famous and decorative maps of the world. Engraved by Franz Hogenberg, it was issued in Ortelius' 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum', the first atlas in the modern sense of the word. Displayed on an oval projection, it features the huge Terra Australis with 'Beach' where Australia is now, and an unrecognisable Japan. An early example, from the first plate of three. SHIRLEY: 122. ORTE0023
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Tomaso Porcacchi.
Scio.
Venice, 1576. 110 x 145mm, set in a page of Italian text.
Engraved by Girolamo Porro for 'L'Isole piu famose del Mondo', a description of various islands of the world. PORC0002
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Arabia Felice Nuova Tavola.
Venice, Valgrisi, 1562. 190 x 260mm.
'Modern' Arabia, the first state, with the platemark extending off the top of the sheet. TIBBETTS, p.46. RUSC0001
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Arabia Felice Nuova Tavola.
Venice, Heirs of Melchior Sessa, 1599. 190 x 260mm.
'Modern' Arabia, a state with a sea-monster added in the Indian Ocean. RUSC0002
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Anglia et Hibernia Nova.
Venice, Valgrisi, 1562. 190 x 260mm.
The 'modern' British Isles, the first state, with the platemark extending off the top of the sheet. Almost identical plates were engraved in 1574, which were re-engraved in 1599 with a galleon and two seamonsters. SHIRLEY: 217. RUSC0003
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Anglia et Hibernia Nova.
Venice, Heirs of Melchior Sessa, 1598. 190 x 260mm.
The 'modern' British Isles. Originally published in 1561, almost identical plates were engraved in 1574, which were re-engraved for this edition with a galleon and two seamonsters. SHIRLEY: 217. RUSC0004
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Tabula Europæ I.
Venice, Heirs of Melchior Sessa, 1599. 190 x 265mm.
The 'Ptolemaic' British Isles. Originally published in 1561, almost identical plates were engraved in 1574, which were re-engraved in 1598 with a galleon and three seamonsters. SHIRLEY: 216. RUSC0005
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Tabula Europae X.
Venice, Valgrisi, c.1562. 195 x 265mm.
'Modern' Greece. The first state, with no plate mark at top. RUSC0006
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Tabula Europae X.
Venice, Valgrisi, c.1562. 195 x 265mm.
'Ptolemaic' Greece. The first state, with no plate mark at top. RUSC0007
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Nueva Hispania Tabula Nova.
Venice, Valgrisi, 1562. 200 x 265mm.
Example of the first state of this very early map of southern North America. The original copper plate had two maps engraved on it, which were separated then centre-bound. Thus the platemark is always trimmed at the top of the map. Later the plates were cut in two. It has a very early representation of California, before it was believed to be an island. There are also scratches on the plate suggesting that the Yucatan was originally engraved as an island, before being altered to the correct peninsula. BURDEN: 31. RUSC0010
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Tavola Nuova di Prussia et di Livonia.
Venice, Valgrisi, 1574. 190 x 265mm.
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. This example was printed without the upper surface of the plate being cleaned of surplus ink properly: thus the map surface is darker than the paper on which it was printed. RUSC0011
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Schonladia Nuova.
Venice, Valgrisi, 1561. Trapezoid, 190 x 260mm at most.
Ruscelli's 'modern' map' Scandinavia, although very little is recognisable. Norway is almost joined to Greenland, and Iceland is a long, thin island called 'Thule'. The Faroes and Shetlands are one island group, and Britain is shown in its Ptolemaic form. RUSC0012
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[South Africa] Girolamo Ruscelli.
Africa Nuova Tavola.
Venice, Valgrisi, 1562, Latin text edition. 190 x 260mm. Bottom corners rebuilt, outside the printed area.
'Modern' Southern Africa map, the first state, with the platemark extending off the top of the sheet. RUSC0013
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Tabula Asiae XII.
Venice, Valgrisi, 1561. 200 x 260mm.
The mythical island of Taprobana, from Ruscelli's edition of Ptolemy. It has been associated with both Sri Lanka and Sumatra, but it is more likely to be completely fictitious. RUSC0014
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Tierra Nveva.
Venice, Valgrisi, 1562. 205 x 265mm.
Example of the first state of this very early map of the Eastern Seaboard. The original copper plate had two maps engraved on it, which were separated then centre-bound. Thus the platemark is always trimmed at the top of the map. Later the plates were cut in two. New England is named 'Terra de Nurumberg' (apparently an Indian word for a stretch of quiet water between two rapids or waterfalls, not the German city), and New York Harbour 'Angoulesme'. It is believed that 'Flora' is the southern shore of Long Island. At the bottom of the map is an early representation of Bermuda, 'La Bremuda'. BURDEN: 30. RUSC0015
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Girolamo Ruscelli.
Ptolemaei Cognita.
Venice, Heirs of Melchior Sessa, 1599. 190 x 270mm.
The world according to Ptolemy, engraved in 1574 with a conical projection. SHIRLEY: 133. RUSC0016
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[Early map of Turkey] Girolamo Ruscelli.
Natolia Nuova Tavola.
Venice, Valgrisi, c.1561. 200 x 260mm.
Map of 'modern' Turkey, published in Ruscelli's edition of Ptolemy's Geography. The first state, with the platemark extending off the top of the sheet. RUSC0018
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[Very early England/ London] Hartman Schedel.
Anglie Provincia.
Nuremburg, 1493, Latin edition. Woodcut, printed area 235 x 225mm, set in a page of text. Coloured.
Despite the title this is a city view, representing London but completely imaginary, with castles on high cliffs. It was published in the 'Nuremberg Chronicle', the earliest printed history of the world, issued the year Columbus returned from discovering America. Generally the further the country was from Nuremberg the more fanciful the depiction: the earliest available accurate map of London was published by Braun & Hogenberg nearly eighty years later. SCHE0001
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Hartman Schedel.
Lithuania.
Nuremburg, 1493. Woodcut, printed area 190 x 225mm, set in a page of text.
Despite the title this is a city view, probably Vilnius. Published in the 'Nuremberg Chronicle', one of the earliest printed histories of the world. SCHE0002
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[Early woodcut of Troy] Hartman Schedel.
Troya.
Nuremburg, 1493, Latin edition. Woodcut, printed area 200 x 230mm, set in a page of text. Coloured.
An imaginary view of the classical city, with a text describing the Trojan War. It was published in the 'Nuremberg Chronicle', the earliest printed history of the world, issued the year Columbus returned to Europe after discovering America. Generally the further the country was from Nuremberg the more fanciful the depiction, SCHE0004
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Lucas Jansz Waghenaer.
Zee Caerte vande Noordt custe van Engellandt...
Enkhuizen, 1590. 350 x 520mm. Small printer's crease lower right.
Published in the first printed marine atlas, this chart of East Anglia was engraved by Jan van Doeticum. As usual with his work the seas are filled with decorative detail. WAGH0001
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[Dorset from the first printed marine atlas] Lucas Jansz Waghenaer.
Angliæ oræ maritimæ inter Plemoutham et Portlandiam simul et præcipuoru portuum, vera effigies et delineatio.
Enkhuizen, c.1590. 330 x 510mm. Pair of pinhole wormholes in upper printed border otherwise very good.
Published in the first printed marine atlas, this chart of the Channal coasts from Plymouth to Portland was engraved by Jan van Doeticum. As usual with his work the seas are filled with decorative detail, with strapwork cartouches for the title and scale, a compass rose with the names of the winds, a seamonster and galleon. KOEMAN: v.4, p.474, state 3 of 4, with plate number 21 and Latin title. WAGH0002
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[Brittany, from the first printed marine atlas] Lucas Jansz Waghenaer.
De Zee Custe, met de Eylande van Bretaignen, tusschenn Blaeut en Picqueliers.
Enkhuizen, c.1590. 335 x 515mm. Coloured.
Chart of French coast from Vannes to St Hilaire with the islands of Belle Isle and Ile de Yeu and St Nazaire. Published in the first printed marine atlas, it was engraved by Jan van Doeticum. As usual with his work the seas are filled with decorative detail, with strapwork cartouches for the title and scale, a compass rose, two seamonsters and three galleons. KOEMAN: v.4, p.472, state 3 of 4, with plate number 45. WAGH0003
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Martin Waldseemüller.
[Tabula Undecima Asiæ.]
Vienne, Gaspar Treschel, 1541. Woodcut, printed area 285 x 410mm at greatest. Four small worm holes in the margin.
The furthest east of the Ptolemaic series of maps, based on the maps prepared by Martin Waldseemüller. The title (as above) is on verso, with 'India Extra Gangem' within the map area. There is some question about what the map actually depicts: the peninsula in the centre of the map has been associated with both Burma and the Malay Peninsula. The Ganges in the west of the map, a river system similar to the Irawaddy Delta and more land to the east stretching further south seem to signify Burma, but the Equator passes through it, which would mean an error of 15º . The map is possibly a composite of various theories, especially with 'Manilae Insulae' appears on the western edge. WALD0001
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