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Rare Lithographic Facsimile of The World's Oldest Known Surviving Globe
This is an exceptional mid-19th Century facsimile of Martin Behaim's 1490-92 globe, generally considered the oldest known surviving globe.
The work was published as an appendix to a rare treatise on the life of Martin Behaim in Nuremberg in 1853, which was accompanied by an introduction written by Alexander von Humboldt.
Martin Behaim Globe -- The Earth Apple
The Erdapfel, or "earth apple," created by Martin Behaim between 1490 and 1492, is recognized as the oldest surviving terrestrial globe. Measuring 51 cm (20 in) in diameter, it is a remarkable artifact of pre-Columbian geography. Constructed from a laminated linen sphere reinforced with wood, the globe is covered with meticulously painted map gores applied to a parchment layer, a process carried out by Georg Glockendon.
Behaim drew heavily on navigational charts, including those of Jorge de Aguiar, and the influence of Martellus's map is evident in the globe's representation of exaggerated landmasses and mythical geographies. Notably, the globe does not include the Americas, as it was completed prior to Columbus’s return to Spain in March 1493. The map features an enlarged Eurasian continent, an empty ocean between Europe and Asia, and elements such as the mythical Saint Brendan's Island and an oversized Cipangu (Japan), located far south of its true position.
The globe’s name, "Erdapfel," may derive from the Reichsapfel ("Imperial Apple" or Globus cruciger), a symbol of imperial power housed alongside the Imperial Regalia in Nuremberg, where the globe was created. Its name is unrelated to the modern German usage of "Erdapfel" to mean potato, as potatoes were unknown in Europe at the time. The Erdapfel reflects the geographical knowledge and misconceptions of the late 15th century, including an enormous phantom peninsula east of the Golden Chersonese (Malay Peninsula) and a vast, uncharted ocean where the Americas would soon be discovered.
Originally displayed in the Nuremberg town hall, the globe remained there until the early 16th century before passing into the care of the Behaim family. In 1907, it was transferred to the Germanic Museum in Nuremberg for preservation. As the only surviving terrestrial globe from the pre-Columbian era, the Erdapfel provides invaluable insights into the geographic understanding of the time and serves as a testament to early cartographic innovation.
Rarity
The work is rare on the market.
This is the first time we have offered this pair of maps for sale.
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