Spectacular 1532 Map of the World Typus Cosmographicus Universalis Engraved Print With Original Hand Colouring with Cannibals and Sea Monsters

A VERY DESIRABLE LATER HAND COLOURED ENGRAVED PRINT OF ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR AND SOUGHT-AFTER EARLY MAPS OF THE WORLD THE TYPUS COSMOGRAPHICUS UNIVERSALIS ED 1532. WITH SEA MONSTERS AND SERPENTS IN THE OCEANS AND CANNIBALS AND WINGED SNAKES ON LAND IT IS FILLED WITH MYSTERIOUS CREATURES.

THE OLD MAP OF THE WORLD IS CONTRIBUTED TO THE COLLABORATION OF THE FAMOUS CARTOGRAPHER SEBASTIAN MÜNSTER (1489-1552) AND HIS FRIEND HANS HOLBEIN THE YOUNGER (1497-1543), WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARTISTIC DECORATIONS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE MAP. THEY BOTH WORKED IN THE GERMAN-SWISS CITY OF BASLE AT THE TIME.

THE DEPICTION IS FAMOUS FOR SHOWING TWO ANGELS THAT USE CRANKS AT THE POLES TO ROTATE THE EARTH AROUND ITS AXIS. While prevailing cosmological theory placed the earth at the center of the universe with the cosmos orbiting around it, here the earth is shown rotating on an axis, illustrated by cherubs at either pole churning the planet around with cranks. As this clear reference to axis rotation precedes the publication of Copernicus De Revolutionibus Coelestium by eleven years, the maps author no doubt learned about Copernicus principles orally, as they were shared by word of mouth for two decades prior to the publication of the book.
 
WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE LIMITED KNOWLEDGE OF THE AMERICAS AT THE TIME. North America is equated with Cuba and is called Terra Cuba. The maps author has combined and modified features found on the two monumental world maps of Martin Waldseemüller, done in 1507 and 1516. The configuration for North America is extracted from the 1507 work, but it has been given the identity of Cuba as per the 1516 map. That 1516 Waldseemüller map, in a posthumous concession to Columbus, identified North America as Terra de Cuba Asie Partis [Land of Cuba, Part of Asia]. But by adopting Waldseemüllers 1507 rather than his 1516 geography, this 1532 map shows North America as a separate land not connected to Asia, and therefore identifies it only as Terra de Cuba, deleting the Asie Partis. The maps author accepted Columbus claim that Cuba was not an island, accepted Waldseemüllers 1516 map in equating Cuba with North America, but did not accept Columbus claim that it was part of Asia. The problem remained, however, as to what to do with the island of Cuba. It had been curiously retained, without identity, on the 1516 Waldseemüller map; but the author of the present map logically deletes one of the two large islands representing Cuba and Hispaniola, but indecisively retains the names of both islands, Isabella [Cuba] and Spagnola appearing above and below the remaining island.
 
INTERESTINGLY ZIPANGRI [JAPAN], STILL MORE THAN A DECADE PRE-DISCOVERY, LIES TO THE WEST OF NORTH AMERICA OR TERRA CUBA. THE DISTANCE ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN ARE HARDLY UNDERSTOOD AND GEOGRAPHICALLY EXAJURATED. IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, INFORMATION ABOUT COUNTRY OUTLINES ARE ALSO POOR, WITH INDIA AND TABROBANA [SRI LANKA] STILL IN REVERSED PROPORTIONS,(SRI LANKA A VERY LARGE ISLAND TO SOUTH OF INDIA) AS PER OLD PTOLEMY MAPS.
 
OF SPECIAL INTEREST ARE THE CORNER PANEL DECORATIONS BY HANS HOLBEIN THE YOUNGER. THEY SHOW ETHNOGRAPHIC SCENES OF MYSTERIOUS LANDS AND CANNIBAL PEOPLE IN ASIA. THE OCEANS ARE FILLED WITH SEA MONSTERS AND SERPENTS. THE LAND HAS CANNIBALS AND WINGED SNAKES.
The upper right has the Pygmies of the Himalayas who are at constant war with the cranes. Their most valuable spices are to the right, depicting the legendary trees of pepper (PIPER), muscat (MVSCATA) and cloves (GARIOFILI). 
The lower right shows the Italian traveler Ludovico di Varthema (VARTOMANUS), the first recorded European to reach the Spice Islands (in 1504-1505, whereas the Portuguese would not find them until 1512).
The lower left panel focuses on the cannibals (CANIBALI) of Southeast Asia, having a BBQ party. A late guest arrives with a horse carrying another tied-up victim.
The upper left scene is also after Varthema's accounts. In the corner is an elephant in a deadly fight with humans. To the right are two winged snakes (gryphons). On the left are the "people with the broad faces: that Varthemas was told that live to the south of Java.

SIZE: FRAME 52CM WIDE 39CM HIGH
MAP 41CM WIDE 28.5CM HIGH
 
CONDITION: REMARKABLE GOOD CONDITION. ARTWORK STILL CLEAR WITH HAND COLOURING STILL BEAUTIFUL. HAND COLOURED LINE ENGRAVING WAS MOUNTED OR PASTED ONTO A HARDBOARD. FEW CHIPS TO WOODEN FRAME.
 
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