An Early Map of Brazil

"Brasil Nuova Tavola", Ruscelli, Girolamo

This is one of the earliest maps of Brazil that is available to collectors. Though most of the maps in Ruscelli's edition of Ptolemy are enlarged re-engravings of those found in the Gastaldi edition of 1548, there are four important, original maps including this one of Brazil. The map is oriented with north to the right. There are some coastal place names, but very little interior detail other than scattered rivers, mountains, forests and a large volcano. The interior is labeled Terra non Descoperta and there is a notation referring to cannibals ("Gli indi natij di questi paesi mangiano carne humana"). In later editions this notation is replaced with an illustration of cannibalism. This is the first state with the platemark running through the top margin. Latin text on verso.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara #217-62.

Condition: B+

On a sheet with a clover watermark and light printer's ink residue. There is light toning along the edges and centerfold, and short centerfold separations in the blank margins that have been archivally repaired on verso.