World--Fine, Oronce

Famous and influential map of the world, compiled by Oronce Fine, the leading French cartographer of the period. The map is constructed on an unusual double-cordiform (heart-shaped) projection, with the poles at the centre of each "heart".

While a remarkable presentation of the northern hemisphere it is the southern hemisphere that has excited most attention. The right hand "heart" is dominated by the large southern continent labelled "Terra Australis recenter inventa, sed nondu[m] plene cognita" (literally "southern land recently found, but not yet fully known"). This comment has caused extensive speculation, as it predates the earliest recognised discovery of Antarctica by 289 years.



This is the first printed map to view the world from the poles; its influence can be seen in Mercator's world map of 1538, and derivatives, including the Salamanca/Lafreri world map of 1555 (see lot 122), as well as with later maps, such de Jode.

Famous and influential map of the World, compiled by Oronce Fine, the leading French cartographer of the period. The map is constructed on an unusual double-cordiform (heart-shaped) projection, with the poles at the centre of each "heart".

While a remarkable presentation of the northern hemisphere it is the southern hemisphere that has excited most attention. The right hand "heart" is dominated by the large southern continent labelled "Terra Australis recenter inventa, sed nondu[m] plene cognita" (literally "southern land recently found, but not yet fully known"). This comment has caused extensive speculation, as it predates the earliest recognised discovery of Antarctica by 289 years.

This is the first printed map to view the world from the poles; its influence can be seen in Mercator's world map of 1538, and derivatives, including the Salamanca/Lafreri world map of 1555 (see lot 122), as well as with later maps, such de Jode.