c 1561-64 Ruscelli Map of the World "Orbis Descriptio"

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“ORBIS DESCRIPTIO” . Giacomo Gastaldi. Venice: Giordano Ziletti, 1561-64. Original copper-plate engraving for Giralamo Ruscelli’s edition of Ptolemy’s Geographica.  State 1, Italian verso. (Ref: Shirley #110 - illustrated; Wolff (Prestel), America Early Maps of the New World, #94 - illustrated). (Paper:  212 x 282mm – 8 ½ x 11 ¼’’    Image: 165 x 260mm – 7 x 10 ¼ ’’) 

This important early map depicts the Americas joined to Asia by a large land-bridge across the Northern Pacific (appropriately named Terra Incognito with a coast named Littus incognitum “unknown coast”), and to the North Pole, Greenland and Scandinavia and almost touching Scandinavia at Nova Zemlya. 

A historic Map: One of the earliest published double hemisphere maps and “the first time that such a representation has been used in an atlas” (Shirley). One of the earliest maps to mark and name New Guinea (NVEVA GVINEA)!!   

Presented in an archival 12 x 16'' mat

  • Inventory# M-14364
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