[Gastaldi, Giacomo]

516 x 778mm., engraved map of the World in 4 sheets joined, flanked by vignette views of Venice, Rome, Genoa and Naples, narrow side margins, minor loss and restoration at lower corners, strengthening and slight discolouration along joints, small repaired tear

cf. Shirley, 120; Karrow 30/93.3

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

EXTREMELY RARE FIRST STATE OF THIS LARGE WORLD MAP AND THE FIRST TRACED APPEARANCE AT AUCTION.

The "Lafreri-school" of mapmakers is the umbrella term frequently applied to group of Italian cartographers, mapmakers, engravers and publishers working in Venice and Rome from about 1540 to about 1580 (with some of their printing plates being used well into the seventeenth century). Giacomo Gastaldi was the leading figure of this school, and one of the greatest cartographers of the sixteenth century. Many of the maps published by the school were compiled by Gastaldi, and issued under the imprint of the various publishers of the period, with or without due credit. The cartographic influence of Gastaldi is evident, but this example has no indication of the engraver or publisher, with the lower panels blank. A second state inserts the imprint of (Nicolo?) Valegio. Although these maps are notoriously difficult to date, within North America is included toponymic reference to the ill-fated French settlements in the Southeast, of 1565. With the elaborate borders, this is visually one of the most striking Italian world maps of the day. 

Shirley and Karrow record only two institutional copies of this first state, in the British Library and John Carter Brown Library. An example of the second state was sold at Sotheby’s in 2000, while Shirley and Karrow together record only one other institutional copy in the Newberry Library.