North America - South America; Sebastian Münster - “Die...

An exceptional authentic 16th-century woodcut map of the Americas by the legendary German humanist and geographer Sebastian Münster (1488–1552). This specimen is definitively identified as State 3 according to Philip Burden's The Mapping of North America (#12), originating from the earliest German atlas editions of Münster's landmark Cosmographia, printed in Basel in 1545 or 1546. State 3 features the early, uncorrected woodblock typo spelling "Atlātica" (with a macron over the 'a') in the North Atlantic ocean. The Verso shows the German Gothic title header "Die newe Weldt" alongside the page number 28. As the first separate map of the entire American continent ever published in an atlas, this iconic woodcut represents the foundational image that introduced the New World to Renaissance Europe. Of specific interest are: "Mare Pacificum": Marks the historical debut of the name "Mare Pacificum" (Pacific Ocean) on a printed map. Magellan’s Fleet: A fine woodcut depicts the Victoria, the legendary flagship of Ferdinand Magellan's fleet, navigating the Pacific waters. The Cannibal Vignette: In the interior of Brazil, a famous, graphic woodcut illustration shows a native cannibalistic scene, directly inspired by the early travel logs of Amerigo Vespucci. Geographical Anachronisms: Depicts Zipangri (Japan) positioned directly off the coast of modern-day California, alongside the false inland "Sea of Verrazzano" nearly cutting North America in two. Imperial Banners: Displays the Portuguese flag over the South Atlantic and the Spanish flag over their Caribbean discoveries. Dimensions: 27 x 34 cm (woodcut), 28,6 x 37,5 cm (paper). Original Hand-color. Rare! Very good condition. The left, right and lower margins were very small and have been enlarged, NO printed lines are touched. Some green copper oxidation visible on backside, but not at all brittle.

Estimation:€3,000

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