Subject: Northern Asia & Northwestern North America
Period: 1598 (published)
Publication: Il Theatro del Mondo
Color: Hand Color
Size:
4.1 x 2.9 inches
10.4 x 7.4 cm
While designed to illustrate the expansive kingdom of the Great Khan in Asia, this tiny map's main feature is the Stretto di Anian separating Asia and North America based on the theory of Giacomo Gastaldi. Near the southern entrance to this straight is a large and strangely shaped Japan with a notation concerning the writings of Marco Polo. In North America, the Sierra Nevadas are named in California, as are five of the mythical cities of Cibola. Italian text on verso.
Pietro Maria Marchetti produced the second pocket atlas based on Abraham Ortelius' folio Theatrum. It is often referred to as the plagiarized version of the Epitome. The copper plates are closely copied from those of Philip Galle's 1593 Italian edition.
References: Burden #128; King (2nd ed.) pp. 78-79.
Condition: A
There is minor soiling in the text at bottom and a horizontal printer's crease runs above the top neatline.