India extrema. Asia & East Indies. Mermaid. SEBASTIAN MÜNSTER 1572 old map
India extrema [Asia]. Artist/engraver/cartographer: Sebastian Münster. Provenance: "Cosmographiae Universalis Lib VI. In Quibus Iuxta Certioris Fidei Scriptores…" Authore Sebastiano Munstero. Cum Gratia & Privilegio Caes. Maiest. Basileae, ex Officina Henricpetrina. Type: Antique 16th century woodcut map. A fine example of the first printed map of Asia, from the 1572 edition of Munster's Cosmographia. The map shows Asia from the Middle East and Persian Gulf to the Pacific, which includes an archipelago of "7448 islands", reflecting limited European knowledge of an otherwise unrecogniseable Southeast Asia. Java (shown as two separate islands, Minor and Major), Porne (Borneo), Molucca and several other islands are named. Japan is not included, instead appearing on the map of America. A large sea monster and mermaid are shown. Although largely based on Ptolemy's work, the map incorporates some of the more recent Portuguese discoveries. The outlines of the Indian subcontinent is recognizable, with "Zaylon" (Ceylon/Sri Lanka) shown as an island. The Portuguese trading posts of Goa and Calicut are named. "Taprobana" is also designated as "Sumatra". The Portuguese trading port of "Malaqua" (Malacca) is shown. The rendering of "Cathay" (China) reflects the writings of Marco Polo and other Venetian travellers.
Size: 8957px × 6848px
Location: Asia
Photo credit: © Antiqua Print Gallery / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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