Antique woodcarving view from the Cosmographia by Sebastian Münster with attractive colouring: A view of the city Algiers, Algeria. Printed by Sebastian Henricpetri in Basel, 1598.
CAPTION:
'Warhafftige Abcontrafehtung der mechtigen und besten Statt Alkair.'
WORK:
"Cosmographey: das ist, Beschreibung aller Länder, Herrschafften und fürnemesten Stetten des gantzen Erdbodens,
sampt ihren Gelegenheiten, Eygenschafften, Religion, Gebräuchen, Geschichten und Handtierungen..
Jetzt aber mit allerley Gedechtnuswirdigen Sachen bis ins MDXCVIII. jar gemehret..."
The Cosmographia is the main work of Sebastian Münster and the first scientific, furthermore generally understandable, German description of the world at that time, which also includes the basics of geography, history, astronomy, science and ethnology.
So the 6 volumes start with an overview of the basics of the physician and mathematic-astronomic geography and furthermore describe certain countries and towns, in particular Southern- and Western Europe, Germany, Northern- and Eastern Europe, Asia, the New Isles and Africa.
Each description includes a double-sided view of the town or the country, because of this the Cosmographia is a unique co-work of historians, publishans, artists and engravers of that time and set new standards for the quality of the city books.
ANNALIST:
Sebastian Münster (1488-1552)
PRINT:
Sebastian Henricpetri, Basel, 1598
DESCRIPTION:
Fine coloured double-sided woodcarving view of the capital of Algeria, Algiers taken from the Cosmographia of Sebastian Münster, 1598.
The front-page shows the coloured view of the city in bird's eye view with many buildings, the Nile river and circumjacent cordilleras, the back-side gives the general title of the view and a description with the image of Cleopatra in German.
SIZE:
double side leaf: about h 34,0 cm w 38,7 cm
CONDITION:
In consideration of its age, the view is in good condition. Still good paper and printing quality, the paper generally shows browning and partly darker spots. One crack in the lower middle folding, some defects at the margins, alltogether 4 small holes, left and right margin cut close to image.
