Benedetto Bordone, a Paduan-born miniaturist and illustrator active

Acquired From: Leen Helmink

Colouring: Uncoloured

Condition: Excellent

Confirmed: Yes

Date Acquired: 19/2/2017

Description: Benedetto Bordone, a Paduan-born miniaturist and illustrator active in Venice, is best known for his Isolario (Book of Islands), a landmark compendium first published in 1528. Drawing on classical geographies, medieval travel narratives, and early exploration accounts, Bordones Isolario catalogues 111 islands and peninsulas across the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Oceans. His maps, while schematic rather than navigational, reflect a transitional cartographic visioncombining compact, stylised layouts with speculative elements characteristic of the early modern imagination.nLocated at the beginning of the volume, this schematic world map is the second printed example to employ an oval projection, following Francesco Rossellis c.1508 rendition. While inspired by Rosselli, Bordones version omits the southern continent beneath Africa, separates North America from Asia, and presents a truncated South America. Place names are rendered in italic script, with numerals keyed to corresponding maps later in the volume, functioning as a visual index to the Isolario's contents.nFor related maps, see #218 (Southeast Asian maps) and #13 (for the world map).

First published: Isolario, nel qual si ragiona di tutte lisole del mondo… Venice: Nicolò d'Aristotile detto Zoppino, 1528

Image Size (cm): 23.5 x 38

Mapmaker: Bordone, Benedetto (1460-1531)

Other states: 1534, 1547 and 1565

Price: 3,000

Primary Category: World

Purchase Reference: Ledger 2022

Rarity: R1 Extremely rare – occasionally seen on the market

References: Skelton, Benedetto BordonenSuárez, Early Mapping of Southeast Asia 120, fig 67.nKarrow (1993), Bendetto Bordone'

Sheet size (cm): 29.2 x 40.4

Shirley ID #: 59 Mapping of the World

Technique: Woodcut

This state: 1528