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Description

Nice example of Bernadus Sylvanus' map of the World, published in Rome in 1511.

Sylvanus world map is one of the earliest obtainable world maps to incorporate modern geographical knowledge with the classical world of Claudius Ptolemy. Sylvanus's map is also the one of the earliest world maps printed in Venice and the first map printed in two colors.

The sides of the map are embellished with information on the climates and several zodiacal signs on the left side of the map. The British Isles, the Indian Peninsula, and Africa all reflect the work of modern cartographers. No longer does a strip of land connect the southern part of Africa with Asia. However, Sylvanus does not include the New World, as he does in his cordiform map of the same date which appeared in the same work.

While the map is based upon the Geography of Claudius Ptolemy, it differs from the earlier maps of printed editions of Ptolemy (Bologna 1477, Rome 1478, Ulm 1482, Berlingheri 1482 and Rome 1507), presenting some hints of modern information not present in the earlier maps. As noted by Ashley Baynton Williams

The most unusual of the editions of Ptolemy, was that published by Jacobus Pentius de Leucho in Venice in 1511, edited by Bernardus Sylvanus. Sylvanus, realizing the geography [of Ptolemy] was out-dated, attempted to update the maps by inserting more modern information, often from contemporary manuscript sources, over the Ptolemaic material, creating an unusual effect. An innovative feature is that the maps, which are printed from woodblocks, are printed in two colors, red and black, with the principal names in red.


Sylvanus' world map is also one of the earliest reasonably obtainable maps of the world for collectors, along with the Schedel map of 1493 from the Nuremberg Chronicle.

The map has been printed on two leaves, which are joined here, as issued.

Reference
Shirley 31
Bernardus Sylvanus Biography

Bernardus Sylvanus (Bernardo Silvano) was born around 1465 in Eboli, a small agricultural town near Salerno in southern Italy. He began studying Ptolemy around 1490, when he was living in Naples. At this time he ran a print shop or studio, producing maps and codices. It was here that he produced his first edition of Ptolemy’s Geographia in 1490, which he dedicated to Andrea Matteo Acquaviva, the third Duke of Atri. For this edition Sylvanus used coordinates and text from Jacopo d’Angelo’s translation, and copied the maps from a Roman printed edition of either 1478 or 1490 (both printed from the same plates). Sylvanus’ 1511 Venice edition of the Geographia built on his prior work, but was groundbreaking in several regards. It was the only edition to add modern updates directly into Ptolemy’s maps, the only edition at the time to print maps on both sides of the leaf, the first edition printed in two colors, and the first Italian edition to use woodblocks. Nothing is known of Sylvanus’ life after the publication of this edition.