In 1538 Michael Isingrin and Henri Petri published

Acquired From: Leen Helmink

Colouring: Uncoloured

Condition: Excellent

Confirmed: 3/10/2024

Date Acquired: 5/10/2019

Description: In 1538 Michael Isingrin and Henri Petri published in Basel a composite edition of two ancient texts: Polyhistor (Multi-descriptive) by Julius Solinus and De orbis situ (A Description of the World) by Pomponius Mela, both edited and updated by Sebastian Münster. Between the two texts, the publishers included this double-page map, often attributed to Münster. It covers a vast geographical expanse, from the Cape of Good Hope and the Nile River to the Indian Ocean, India, China and the Pacific. nIn Africa, the Nile follows the Ptolemaic tradition, its source depicted as two unnamed lakes at the foot of the Mountains of the Moon. To the northeast, near the Red Sea coast, is the region labelled Troglodyte, referencing the ancient Greek term for cave dwellers. The seaport of Berenice, located on the western shore of the Red Sea, is marked as an ancient trade hub for India, Sri Lanka, Arabia, and Upper Egypt.nThe Middle East is depicted according to Ptolemaic tradition, reflecting the discoveries of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. At the turn of the Tanais River, two pillars are labelled Columne Alexandri, while on the eastern side, a monument labelled Arae Caesaris (Altar of Caesar) commemorates Alexander's memorials to honour the gods for his conquests.nIndia, as described by Ptolemy, is situated between the Indus and Ganges Rivers, featuring the Vindius (Vindhya) mountain range to the north and the Bettigo (Pothigay Hills) to the south. In the southern Indian Ocean, the large island Taprobana is identified as Sumatra, based on Ptolemys model. nSoutheast Asia is shown with a representation introduced by Henricus Martellus around 1490, replacing the earlier Ptolemaic version. The southern tip of the peninsula shows the Sultanate of Malacca (Regnum Malacha), which the Portuguese first reached in 1509 and captured in 1511. To the east lies the Champa region (Ciamba provincia), corresponding to modern-day Vietnam. Marco Polos China is labelled Regnum Cathay, and Ptolemaic references to China, such as Sinarum Regio and Seres (Land of the Silk), are also included. To the north, Tartaria magna (Greater Tartary) and the region of Anthropophagi (Man-eaters) are marked. A northwest passage, labeled Mare congelatum (Frozen Sea), is also depicted.nAt the end of Polyhistor, in a a brief paragraph opposite the map, the editor informs the reader that the map reflects most regions of Asia, except Asia minor and that more detailed maps of Europe and Africa are in other chapters in the edition: In the present map we have placed Asia as far as its extreme edge to the east, as in our own day it has been explored by men. nIn the upper right corner, a coastline labelled Terra incognita is shown with a small bay, trees, and hills. In the Southern Indian Ocean, two ships are illustrated: one attacked by a mermaid, the other by a sea monster.

First published: Münster, Sebastian, ed. Polyhistor by Julius Solinus and De orbis situ by Pomponius Mela. Basel: Michael Isingrin and Henri Petri, 1538

Image Size (cm): 33 x 24.5

Mapmaker: Münster, Sebastian (1488-1552)

Other states: Second state 1543 (No signature)

Price: 4,800

Primary Category: Asia

Purchase Reference: Ledger 2022

Rarity: R2 Very rare – one or two copies appear on the market

References: Philip D Burden, The Mapping of North America: A List of Printed Maps, 15111670 (Rickmansworth: Raleigh Publications, 1996), 11. nHenry R. Wagner, The Cartography of the Northwest Coast of North America to the Year 1800, vol. 1 (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1937), 9.nRobert W. Karrow, Sebastian Münster, in Mapmakers of the Sixteenth Century and Their Maps: Bio-Bibliographies of the Cartographers of Abraham Ortelius, 1570 (Chicago, IL: Speculum Orbis Press, 1993), 41034.

Sheet size (cm): 33 x 30

Technique: Woodcut

This state: 1538 (Signature 't4' lower right)

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