Bordone, Benedetto:

$35,000 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

LIBRO DI BENEDETTO BORDONNE NEL QUAL SI RAGIONA DE TUTTE L'ISOLE DEL MONDO.... The first edition of one of the earliest and most comprehensive works on the islands of the world, and a tremendous achievement of world cartography. Compared to the first work on world islands, or "Isolario," by Sonetti (circa 1485), which contained only forty-nine maps, the 105 maps and plans included in Bordone's effort mark a dramatic improvement in the attempt to map all known islands. Because of the rapid advances being made in the exploration of the New World, Bordone was able to include new cartographic representations of the north coast of South America, a substantial portion of New World island groups, and a new, dramatic rendering of the entire world.The map of the unnamed north coast of South America represents an early close illustration of what the Spanish referred to as "Terra Firma" and what would later comprise a large portion of the Spanish Main. Only four place names are given on the mainland: "Chanchite," "Cuztana," "Mazatambal," and "Paria," located in the Guianas. To the north lie Jamaica and Hispaniola, along with a cluster of other, most likely fictional, islands. The surrounding text describes Columbus' forays in the region, a menacing island of cannibals, and more.The West Indies and other islands off the coast of the Americas are treated in considerable detail. Jamaica, Hispaniola, Cuba, Guadeloupe, and Martinique are each represented in a separate map, while two addition

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