Item #11014 De Novis Insulis, quomodo, quando & per quem illae inventae sint. S. MUNSTER.
The New World Fancifully Depicted
Discovery Era/ Americas..
[Basel, c. 1550]

De Novis Insulis, quomodo, quando & per quem illae inventae sint.

8 x 6 ¾ inches. Fine hand color; tape stains in upper corners, very good overall.

A fascinating woodcut marking the beginning of the chapter discussing the New World in Sebastian Munster’s groundbreaking Cosmographia. It depicts an archipelago whose islands boast walled cities in the European mode. Sea monsters prowl the waters between the islands, with sailing ships firing cannons at them. Below the image follows the description of Columbus’ famous petitions to the King and Queen of Spain, and of Columbus’ voyage as far as the Fortunate Isles and the Canary Islands. 

Munster’s Cosmographia was, prior to Ortelius’ 1570 atlas, the dominant work presenting the world to a literate, lay audience and would help shape the world view of generations of European readers.

 

 

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