Sign In

Exceedingly rare Czech language example of Bunting's map of Africa ( A frica Tertia Pars Terrae), which includes extensive contemporary manuscript notes within the map.

The map is based largely upon Sebastian Munster's map of Africa, first issued in 1540. Bunting presents the traditional Ptolemaic view of two lakes fed by the Montes Lunae (Mountains of the Moon) as the source of the Nile. However, Bunting's Africa differs from Munster's as he introduces a third large lake, Nidilis, shown in Central Africa above Elephantophagi, as a third source for the Nile. Several large cities and kingdoms are noted. The shape of the continent, presented by Bunting as tapering to a point at the Cape of Good Hope, makes this map unusual.

This scarce map is from Heinrich Bunting's Itinerarum Sacrae Scripturae, published in Prague by Daniel Adam z. Weleslawnja in the Czech language. It is believed that more than 60 editions of Bunting's Itinerarum were published in various languages between 1581 and 1757. Bunting's work describes the travels of religious figures in the Bible and was the most complete summary of geography of the Bible of this period. I tinerarum Sacrae Scripturae was first printed in Helmstadt in 1581 and was produced in numerous editions in Germany. The book was so popular, it was also issued with text in Danish, Swedish, Dutch, Czech, and English.

This example has been completely re-engraved and is a more attractive and stylized edition of the map than the earlier German edition. It is also slightly larger than the 1581 issue and the original Latin names are more legible. The publishers inserted metal type into the woodblock, which results in the different styles of lettering found on the map. Czech words have been added under the original Latin text, as well as a number of additional names in the Czech language, including place names, the names for North, South, East and West, and the title. The engraving for the sea is depicted as vertical waves in most examples; however the Czech edition features a fluid zigzagging of the oceans. A large sailing ship, a merman and an aquatic bird (possibly a swan) embellish the map.

According to Betz, this is a later woodcut map of Africa, whose appearance is rare and unusual, particularly in comparison to the availability of other maps from this period. Much of the paper used by Bunting was of inferior quality, which has left most surviving maps from I tinerarum Sacrae Scripturae in poor condition. Considering this, the present example is in very good condition. AMPR shows no examples of the map having been sold in the past 30 years with the Czech title.