[MAP] World Map - Munster Cosmographia Title Page - 1558

Title page to Sei libri Della Cosmographia Universale [with map]. Sebastian Munster. Basel, 1558.

303mm x 185mm. This leaf is from the first Italian translation. Hand-colored title page with world map of the eastern hemisphere. Features a ship sailing in the Indian Ocean. The world is surrounded by a ring of clouds and then a ring of fire, with four wind heads blowing from the corners. On verso is a portrait of Sebastian Munster at age 60. Slight wrinkling of sheet on the outer edges. Overall toning. Previous owner notations to recto. Coloring is still bright, and very well done.

The Cosmographia by Sebastian Münster from 1544 is the earliest German description of the world. It had numerous editions in different languages including Latin, French (translated by François de Belleforest), Italian, English, and even Czech. The last German edition was published in 1628, long after his death. The Cosmographia was one of the most successful and popular books of the 16th century. It passed through 24 editions in 100 years. This success was due to the fascinating woodcuts (some by Hans Holbein the Younger, Urs Graf, Hans Rudolph Manuel Deutsch, and David Kandel). It was most important in reviving geography in 16th century Europe.