Munster, pub. 1614 - Map of the Americas

Munster, pub. 1614 - Map of the Americas
This very old woodcut is from Sebastian Munster's Cosmographey oder beschreibung aller Länder, Herrschafften, fürnemmsten Stetten, geschichten, gebreüchen, handtierungen &c. It was published in Basel by Henrichum Petri in 1614.

The work was a massive chronicle of all the geographical knowledge of the world to that point. The work included world maps as well as views of smaller cities and woodcut illustrations of historical subjects, mythology, natural history and ethnography. It was the first work to show America in its "correct" continental form and "sealed the fate of 'America' as the name of the New World." (Burden 12) It was also the first to name the Pacific Ocean

Sebastian Munster (1489-1552) was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and a Hebrew scholar. He also became a Franciscan monk at an early age. Munster's Cosmographia was the first work of scientific based knowledge in the German language.


Paper Size: ~ 17" by 13 1/2" (Fold Out)

The work is in good to very good condition overall. There is a small chip at the fold at the upper and lower edges in the margins. There is some minor repair at the verso of the upper portion of the fold. There is some archival paper repair at the lower right corner outside of the border. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. There may be some faint bleed through. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.
~ 17" by 13 1/2" (Fold Out)