Mörwunder und seltzame thier, wie die in Mitnächtigen ländern gefunden werden

Beautiful coloured woodcut of sea and land monsters. Published by Heinrich Petri and printed in Basel in 1574.

Reference 11685

Description

One of the most sought after 16th century curiosities.

The famous charts of mythical sea and land monsters by Sebastian Munster in beautiful colours. With fantastic fishes and lobsters attacking boats and each other. Above a smaller strip with various deer, bears and snakes.

The monsters are derivative from the Carta Marina of 1539 by Olaus Magnus which is preserved in two copies only. The chart gives a unique view of Renaissance attitudes toward the unknown lands beyond the civilized world.

From the German edition of Sebastian Münster's Cosmography, Cosmographey oder beschreibung aller Länder. The sheet was published 1574 by Heinrich Petri in Basel. Verso a small map centred on Transylvania.

Details

Cartographer	Sebastian Münster
Title	Mörwunder und seltzame thier, wie die in Mitnächtigen ländern gefunden werden
Publisher, Year	Heinrich Petri, Basle, 1574
Plate Size	26.0 x 34.5 cm (10.2 x 13.6 inches)
Sheet Size	33.5 x 40.5 cm (13.2 x 15.9 inches)

Condition

Brown spot in left margin, small wormhole in upper margin backed. Excellent condition with beautiful colours.

Cartographer

Sebastian Münster was born 1489 in Ingelheim (Pfalz). First being a Franciscan, he became Professor for Theology, Hebrew and Mathematics after he converted to Protestantism in 1529. He became one of the most influencing geographers of the sixteenth century. His Cosmographia, published in 1544, spread geographical knowledge wide over Europe. It was issued in nearly 40 editions and 6 languages. Münster was the first cartographer publishing each known continent on a separate map. His second important work was the Geographia, a new edition of Ptolemys Geographia. He died May 1552 in Basel on Black Death.

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Sebastian Münster: Mörwunder und seltzame thier, wie die in Mitnächtigen ländern gefunden werden.

Beautiful coloured woodcut of sea and land monsters. Published by Heinrich Petri and printed in Basel in 1574.

Curiosities - Münster, Sebastian - Mörwunder und seltzame thier, wie die in...