Selestad, Ou Schletstad, Cite Imperiale, Situee au Millieu du Pays d'Alsace

Original old woodcut view of Sélestat in Alsace by Sebastian Münster. From a French edition of the "Cosmographey". Showing the city from birdeye perspective with birds, animals and a figure carring coat of arms and sitting on an eagle. French text on verso.

Minor waterstained in lower margin.

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.