Catalog Archive
Auction 91, Lot 215

"Germania"

Subject: Central Europe

Period: 1575 (published)

Publication: La Cosmographie Universelle

Color: Black & White

Size:
20 x 14 inches
50.8 x 35.6 cm
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Scarce map from an edition of Sebastian Munster's "Cosmographia", which was translated into French and issued with new maps by Francois de Belle-Forest. The map is a copy of Ortlelius's map of the same title. It covers the German Empire, which at the time included nearly all of central Europe. Interestingly the map was produced by the woodcut method, rather than a copper engraving. The map is beautifully decorated with the royal arms enclosed in a cartouche, strapwork title and scale of miles cartouches, with a ship and sea monster in the stippled sea. Another title "Carte Generalle D'Alemaigne" above neatline. Issued trimmed close to neatline and folding, with the binder's instruction as a tab in the top left corner. A scarce map, issued only in one edition.

References:

Condition: A+

Estimate: $450 - $550

Sold for: $375

Closed on 6/14/2000

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