Lot 95
  • 95

World--Münster-Holbein.

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Description

  • Typus cosmographicus universalis. [Basel, 1532], 365 x 650mm., large woodcut world map on an oval projection, printed on two sheets joined, two large panels of inset type, some major place names also inset, portion of the original work's title pasted on verso, strengthening at folds, very small repaired tear at lower left hand margin

Literature

Shirley 67; Harrisse 171

 

Catalogue Note

Published in Novus orbis regionum, an important collection of voyages compiled by Johann Huttich and edited by Simon Grynaeus and with a geographical preface by Sebastian Münster, this richly decorated map, probably by Münster, is surrounded by masterful vignettes, attributed to Hans Holbein the younger.

The map shows a view of the New World, already out of date at the time of publication. The gap between North and South America and the narrow flat-sided shape of North and South America harks back to Waldseemüller (1507) and Schoner (1520).

The elaborate borders are enhanced with imaginary scenes of cannibals, winged serpents, and elephants, and at both poles there appear winged angels turning the world on its axis illustrating Copernican theory, not widely known until after 1543 with the publication of his De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. The present example is Harrisse's B state, showing the name "Asia" in small capitals.