AFRICA MUNSTER (SEBASTIAN) Africa Lybia Morenlandt mit allen königreichen so zu unsern zeit...

AFRICA MUNSTER (SEBASTIAN) Africa Lybia Morenlandt mit allen königreichen so zu unsern zeiten darin gefunden werden, hand-coloured woodcut map, light toning, lower left corner repaired, 260 x 335mm., Basel, 1544 (or later) Footnotes: THE FIRST MODERN MAP OF AFRICA. The map featured in Munster's Cosmographia universalis (1544-1628), as well as in his version of Ptolemy's Geographia (1540-52). Based partly on Ptolemy, the map also includes modern Portuguese and Arabic information, thus differing from the Ptolemaic map of Africa in use until then. It is richly illustrated: the numerous kingdoms are marked by a sceptre within a crown, and we find depictions of a Cyclops (a reference to the legendary tribe of the Monoculi), parrots and an elephant. Hamarich, the capital of the mythical Christian king Pester John, is shown at the confluence of the twin sources of the Nile, while the Portuguese caravel in the Gulf of Guinea represents trade and navigation. The cartouche in the lower left details sailing directions from Hispania to Calcutta via the Cape of Good Hope. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: • • Zero rated for VAT, no VAT will be added to the Hammer Price or the Buyer's Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing