Catalog Archive
Auction 141, Lot 617

Bunting's Rare Map of Asia in the Form of a Pegasus

"Asia Secunda Pars Terrae in Forma Pegasir", Bunting, Heinrich

Subject: Asia

Period: 1581 (circa)

Publication: Itinerarium Sacrae Scripturae

Color: Hand Color

Size:
14 x 10.6 inches
35.6 x 26.9 cm
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Among the earliest cartographic oddities are the famous maps from Heinrich Bunting's unusual travel book based on the Bible. This woodblock map of Asia is presented as the mythical winged horse, Pegasus. The horse is drawn fairly realistically, so that a good deal of imagination is required to view the map. The head represents Asia Minor with the mouth at Istanbul. The wings portray Central Asia and Siberia with the Caspian Sea laying horizontally between the wings and the saddle. Persia is delineated on the horse blanket with the forelegs forming Arabia. The hind legs represent the Indian and Malay peninsulas. A ship, a sea creature and mermaids fill the seas. German text on verso.

References: Hill, p.39; Suarez, Fig. 54; Tooley, MCC-1 # 3; Yeo #8; Hoppen #8.

Condition: B+

Light soiling with a few minute worm holes only visible when held to light and professionally repaired centerfold separations in top and bottom blank margins. Narrow margins at sides.

Estimate: $3,000 - $3,500

Unsold

Closed on 9/5/2012

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