Finely colored example of these four rare maps of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, originally published in Benedetto Bordone's Isolario in 1528.
The maps, finely printed on one sheet (two on each side), depict the islands of Kalymnos (Κάλυμνος), Astypalaia (Ἀστυπάλαια), Leros (Λέρος), and Patmos (Πάτμος). Each map is hand-colored, illustrating the islands’ topography, settlements, and fortifications, with simple yet elegant details characteristic of early 16th-century cartography.
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Top Left: Map of Patmos
The map features the island of Patmos, known for its rugged terrain and the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian. The fortified monastery and nearby village are prominently depicted in the central part of the island. Patmos is well known as the site where Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation, adding historical and religious significance to this portrayal. -
Top Right: Map of Kalymnos
The map of Kalymnos shows the island with its mountainous landscape and scattered settlements. It marks key locations and natural features of the island, renowned in ancient times for its sponge diving. The map also includes nearby smaller islands, reflecting Kalymnos' strategic location in the Aegean Sea. -
Bottom Left: Map of Leros
The map presents Leros, with its distinctive coastal outlines and fortifications. The detailed rendering of the island's various bays and settlements provides insight into its maritime importance during the era. Leros' prominent position in the Aegean is highlighted, showcasing its historical role in naval activities. -
Bottom Right: Map of Astypalaia
Astypalaia, with its two main parts connected by a narrow isthmus, is depicted in the bottom right map. The island is known for its butterfly-like shape, reflected here in the map's cartographic representation. The island’s fortifications and ports are indicated, emphasizing its historical importance in the region’s trade routes.
Benedetto Bordone (1460-1531) was a polymath who was born in Padua and worked in Venice. He was an illuminator, engraver, miniaturist, editor, and geographer. It is possible he made the first globe in Italy. His most famous work is the Isolario, or Book of Islands, which included many of the earliest printed maps of islands in the New World.
Bordone, a prominent Venetian manuscript editor, miniaturist, and cartographer, was born in Padua, a city that was then part of the Republic of Venice. Although his exact date of birth remains unknown, historical records indicate that his parents married in Padua in 1442, and he himself was married in 1480. Bordone's contributions to the field of cartography, particularly through his seminal work, Isolario, have cemented his legacy as a pivotal figure in the Renaissance cartographic tradition.
Bordone's most renowned work, Isolario (The Book of Islands), printed in Venice in 1528, is a comprehensive compilation that describes all the known islands of the world. The book offers detailed accounts of each island's folklore, myths, cultures, climates, geographical situations, and historical narratives. It stands as a testament to the popularity of the isolario genre in 15th and 16th century Italy and serves as an illustrated guide for sailors, incorporating the era's latest transatlantic discoveries.
One of the notable features of Isolario is an oval depiction of the world, a map type invented by Bordone. This innovation was later formalized into the equal-area elliptical Mollweide projection three centuries afterward. Bordone's map portrays a distorted view of the New World, showing only the northern regions of South America and depicting North America as a large island labeled Terra del Laboratore (Land of the Worker), a likely reference to the region's active slave trade during that period, which also influenced the name Labrador.
The book also contains the earliest known printed account of Francisco Pizarro's conquest of Peru, making it a significant historical document. Among the numerous woodcut maps included in Isolario, twelve are dedicated to the Americas. These maps feature a plan of "Temistitan" (Tenochtitlan, modern Mexico City) before its destruction by Hernán Cortés, and a map of Ciampagu, the earliest known European-printed map of Japan depicted as an island.
Benedetto Bordone's familial connections are also of interest; he is reputed to have been the father of Julius Caesar Scaliger, a noted classical scholar, and the grandfather of Joseph Justus Scaliger, who is recognized as the founder of the science of historical chronology. The original maps from Bordone's Isolario are highly valued today for their historical significance and intricate craftsmanship. Through his work, Bordone has left an indelible mark on the history of cartography, providing invaluable insights into the geographical knowledge and cultural perceptions of his time.