Old, antique world map by Benedetto Bordone. 1528
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Item Number: 2479 Authenticity Guarantee
Category: Antique maps > World and Polar
Old, antique world map by Benedetto Bordone.
Second world map drawn on an oval projection (the first was Rosselli's map of 1508 on which it was based.)
Woodcut
Size: 21.5 x 38cm (8.4 x 14.8 inches)
Verso text: Italian
Condition: Excellent.
Condition Rating: A
References: Shirley (World),159.
From: Libro di Benedetto Bordone ... de tutte l'Isole del mondo ... Venice, 1528.
For a long time Bordone's world map was cited as the first drawn on an oval projection, prior to the discovery of Francesco Rosselli's map of c. 1508 using this form of construction. References within Bordone's book indicate that he had been occupied on its compilation for many years prior to publication, even prior to 1521. The Venetian Senate had granted Bordone a licence to print a world map as early as 1508 but no subsequent work by him has been identified. His 1528 map is undoubtledly based on Rosselli's oval one although there are several points of difference; for instance the omission of all antartic lands and the separation of Asia and America. Rosselli's truncated form of South America is retained.
In his world map Bordone has essentially provided an outline, with graceful italic script and numerals on each of the islands providing a reference for the more detailed maps to follow. Such books of islands - or Isolario - were popular in fifteehth- and sixteenth-century Italy and Bordone's work was preceded by Sonetti's of 1485 and followed by others, notably Camocio and Porchacchi.
Often the woodcut map was intended only as a guide for an illuminator to colour, and to add further names by hand.
