1550 Italy Dell'Italia Discrizzion Del la Puglia. Similmente il principio del…
By: Sebastian Münster
Date: 1550 (circa) Basel
Dimensions: 8 x 6 inches (20.3 x 15.24 cm)
This marvelous woodcut map is a splendid example of Sebastian Munster's mastery in an Italian edition of his Cosmographia. Starting from Terracina, the map depicts the more southern regions of Italy in great detail, its topography drawn with regions clearly delineated. Easily recognizable even today, with major cities and ports all denoted. Mountain ranges, rivers, plains and even volcanoes in the Mediterranean to the west of Italy are depicted.
Most of the regions labeled in Italy in the sixteenth century bear the same names in modern times. The eastern tip of Sicily is depicted, along with Etna in flames. The verso features descriptive text in Italian, along with an interesting vignette depicting a fierce battle near a city with tall medieval towers and steeply pitched roofs against a background of mountains.
Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) was one of the most influential cartographers and cosmographers of the 16th century. Born in Ingelheim, near Mainz, Münster was originally a scholar of Hebrew and theology before his interest in geography led him to become one of the foremost mapmakers of his era. His most famous work, Cosmographia, was first published in 1544 and became one of the earliest comprehensive descriptions of the world, heavily influencing geographical understanding in Europe.
Sebastian Münster’s maps, known for their accuracy and artistry, were often accompanied by extensive written descriptions, which provided context for his visual representations. His cartographic work covered not only Europe but also extended to include maps of the Americas, Asia, and Africa, making Cosmographia one of the most important works of Renaissance geography. Throughout his career, Münster worked to incorporate both scientific knowledge and aesthetic detail into his maps, and he helped lay the foundation for modern cartography with his dedication to depicting the world as accurately as possible. Though Münster died of the plague in 1552, his work was still published well into the 17th century.
Condition: This map is in A condition offering a dark print impression on clean paper with full margins on all sides.
Inventory #12923
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