Sicily, by Sebastian Münster. 1552
Sebastian Münster (1488-1552)
Sebastian Münster, a German geographer, cartographer, Hebraist, and theologian, was born in Ingelheim, near Mainz In 1505, he went to Heidelberg to enter the Franciscan order. In 1507 he went to Louvain, where he studied mathematics, geography, and astronomy. In 1509 Münster became a student of Konrad Pelikan, who taught Hebrew and Greek as well as mathematics and cosmography. In 1518 he completed his studies at the University of Tübingen. He was the favorite of the famous mathematician and astronomer Johann Stöffler.
In 1524 Münster was appointed professor of Hebrew at Heidelberg University. In 1525 he published his first map as part of a broadside: The Instrument of the Suns combined a map, calendar, astrological almanac, sundial, and nocturnal on one attractive sheet, suitable for wall mounting.
In 1540 he published a Latin edition of Ptolemy's Geographia with illustrations. He based this edition on the Latin translation by Willibald Pirkheimer and produced new maps to supplement the Ptolemaic maps. The twenty-seven maps of the Ptolemaic canon are supplemented by twenty-one new maps. Further editions appeared in 1541 and 1542.
In 1544 he published the Cosmographia, a bulky book with 659 pages and some 520 woodcuts. Maps in this edition included three maps from the Ptolemaic canon and fourteen modern maps (from previous editions of the Geographia), as well as nine new maps. Later editions (1545, 1546, 1548) enlarged the Cosmographia. The 1550 edition contains cities, portraits, and costumes. These editions in both Latin and German constitute the full fruition of Münster's dream of a comprehensive geography.
The Cosmographia was one of the most successful works of the 16th century. It passed through 24 editions in 100 years, in different languages, including Latin, French, Italian, English, and even Czech. The last German edition was published in 1628.
He died at Basel of the plague in 1552.
As a cartographer, Münster deserves special recognition for formulating a plan for a comprehensive and uniform map of a country. As a geographer, his greatest achievement was the Cosmographia. (Karrow).
Sicilia. - Siciliae Insulae atque totius regni eius descriptio, ...
Item Number: 27267 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > Europe > Italy
Old, antique map of Sicily, by Sebastian Münster.
Antica mappa della Sicilia, di Sebastian Münster.
Date of the first edition: 1550
Date of this map: 1552
Woodcut, printed on paper.
Size (not including margins): 21.5 x 15cm (8.4 x 5.9 inches)
Verso text: Latin
Condition: Excellent
Condition Rating: A
References: Karrow, 58/145; Dufour-La Gumina, p.71 & 287.
From: Cosmographiae Universalis Lib. VI. . . . Basle, H. Petri, 1552.
Sebastian Münster (1488-1552)
Sebastian Münster, a German geographer, cartographer, Hebraist, and theologian, was born in Ingelheim, near Mainz In 1505, he went to Heidelberg to enter the Franciscan order. In 1507 he went to Louvain, where he studied mathematics, geography, and astronomy. In 1509 Münster became a student of Konrad Pelikan, who taught Hebrew and Greek as well as mathematics and cosmography. In 1518 he completed his studies at the University of Tübingen. He was the favorite of the famous mathematician and astronomer Johann Stöffler.
In 1524 Münster was appointed professor of Hebrew at Heidelberg University. In 1525 he published his first map as part of a broadside: The Instrument of the Suns combined a map, calendar, astrological almanac, sundial, and nocturnal on one attractive sheet, suitable for wall mounting.
In 1540 he published a Latin edition of Ptolemy's Geographia with illustrations. He based this edition on the Latin translation by Willibald Pirkheimer and produced new maps to supplement the Ptolemaic maps. The twenty-seven maps of the Ptolemaic canon are supplemented by twenty-one new maps. Further editions appeared in 1541 and 1542.
In 1544 he published the Cosmographia, a bulky book with 659 pages and some 520 woodcuts. Maps in this edition included three maps from the Ptolemaic canon and fourteen modern maps (from previous editions of the Geographia), as well as nine new maps. Later editions (1545, 1546, 1548) enlarged the Cosmographia. The 1550 edition contains cities, portraits, and costumes. These editions in both Latin and German constitute the full fruition of Münster's dream of a comprehensive geography.
The Cosmographia was one of the most successful works of the 16th century. It passed through 24 editions in 100 years, in different languages, including Latin, French, Italian, English, and even Czech. The last German edition was published in 1628.
He died at Basel of the plague in 1552.
As a cartographer, Münster deserves special recognition for formulating a plan for a comprehensive and uniform map of a country. As a geographer, his greatest achievement was the Cosmographia. (Karrow).
Related items
Messana, Urbs est Sicilie maxima, situ, opulentia, & tuta navium statione, ... 1574
Messina by Braun & Hogenberg
[Item number: 5497]
Messina Ville de la Sicile. 1704
Sicily - Messina, by Blaeu - Mortier.
[Item number: 18139]
Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio. 1612
Sicily, Sardinia, Corfu, Djerba, Elba, Malta by Abraham Ortelius
[Item number: 20929]
Insula sive Regnum Siciliae Urbibus praecipuis exornatum c. 1682
Sicily by Frederick de Wit.
[Item number: 24517]
Regni & Insulae Siciliae Tabula Geographica ... c. 1720-65
Sicily, by Homann Heirs.
[Item number: 25478]
Isle et Royaume de Sicile. 1665
Sicily, by N. & G. Sanson.
[Item number: 25896]
L'Ile de Sicile. 1713
Sicily, by Pieter Van der Aa.
[Item number: 26077]
Sicilia. 1602
Sicily (Sicilia), by Langenes, published by P. Bertius.
[Item number: 26539]
Very rare!
Regni Siciliae et Insulae Maltae et Gozae Cum Circumjacentibus Insulis. c. 1690
Sicily by Johannes De Ram.
[Item number: 26726]
Sicilia Insula. After 1575
Sicily (Sicilia) by Giovanni Francesco Camocio
[Item number: 27566]
Carte de L'Isle et Royaume de Sicile. 1776-79
Sicily & Malta, by Paolo Santini.
[Item number: 27732]
Tabula . VII . Euro. 1525
Sardinia & Sicily by Lorenz Fries.
[Item number: 28385]
Sicilia Regnum. 1650
Sicily (Sicilia), by Willem & Joan Blaeu.
[Item number: 28774]
Parergon map
Siciliae Veteris Typus. 1584
Ancient Sicily, by Abraham Ortelius.
[Item number: 29146]
Isle et Royaume de Sicile. 1652
Sicily, by N. & G. Sanson.
[Item number: 29720]
Tabula . VII . Euro. 1525
Sardinia & Sicily by Lorenz Fries.
[Item number: 30534]