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This finely engraved Venetian map is the second separately published map to focus on the island of Cuba, closely following Paolo Forlani’s earlier work of ca. 1564–65. The engraving was published in Venice by Ferrando Bertelli and is dated to 1566 based on its pairing with a companion map of Hispaniola bearing that imprint.
The plate presents Cuba in context with surrounding islands, including Jamaica (Iamayca), the Cayman Islands (Ysi di lagartos), and the western edge of Hispaniola. Latitude and longitude scales (east of Ferro, north of the equator) border the frame.
The cartouche extols the island’s resources, from sugar and cotton to gold and medicinal spices. It contrasts the civility of the Cuban population with that of Hispaniola and marvels at a natural spring producing pitch and tar. Bertelli signs the work with his initials “F. B.” at the end of the panel:
Cartouche transcription (original orthography):
L’isola Cuba e piu setentrional’ dela Spagnola et e acro essa molto abondante di cucaro cotone oro et altre cose simili con molte speciarie produce molto formento indiano deto da paesani maiz il populo di q[ue]sta isola e molto piu humano et piacevole di quelo de la Spagnola hano copia di betume e pegada la quale nase d’una fonte naturalmente quini e aere molto tenpato et buono et e situata et figurata come si vede. F. B
The seas are rendered with fine, horizontal dashed engraving, with a characteristic Italian compass rose between Cuba and Jamaica.
Originally issued on a larger folio sheet with a companion map of Hispaniola, the two were often separated by early collectors. Most surviving examples, like this one, show signs of trimming along the horizontal platemark.
States
This impression represents the second state of the plate, as identified by Bifolco and Ronca, with the cartouche intact and Bertelli’s monogram present. A conjectural first state without the initials is noted but not confirmed.
