A beautiful example of this fascinating and desirable 16th century woodcut--Munster’s visual compendium of sea and land monsters. Many of the former were inspired by whale sightings, as is suggested by the several creatures in the image spouting water. Other beasts seem quite familiar, though..... More about Monstra marina & terrestria, quae passim in partibus aquilonis inveniuntur

Superb example of this richly engraved chart of the southeastern coast of Sweden from Öland to the approach to Stockholm. At the center of the chart is a magnificent compass rose, and the Baltic Sea – here called the Swedish Sea – is decorated with ships and sea monsters. On..... More about Zee Custe van Sweeden Otrent de Westerwijk en Tgatt vann Stockholm Beginnende va Kalmar Tot sen...

A superb bird’s-eye view, published just after Stockholm had become the official capital of the Swedish Empire. The view is oriented to the south, displaying the city’s northern fortifications and gates. The royal castle appears prominently to the left of center. In the foreground, Stockholm’s suburbs of wooden houses stand..... More about Stockholm

This dramatic engraving would have served as the polar cap (calotte) for Coronelli’s largest globe measuring roughly 3 ½ feet in diameter. It presents the northernmost regions of the world at a time when European understanding of them was in flux. Baffin’s Bay is shown, including some tantalizing passages westwards..... More about Polo Settentrionale, o Boreale et Artico