Ptolemeisch General Tafel, die halbe Kugel der Welt begreiffende

Ptolemaic woodcut world map by Sebastian Münster. With a surround of clouds and wind-heads. Title on verso with a beautiful woodcut vignette. This is the second ptolemaic world map of S. Münster which is used in his Cosmographey from 1588.

Two tiny worm holes. A very good copy with beautiful colours.

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.