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Giovanni Battista Nicolosi

Giovanni Battista Nicolosi (1610-1670), also known as Giovan Battista, was a Sicilian priest, geographer, and cartographer who worked for the Vatican’s Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (or Propaganda Fide) under Pope Gregory XV. Officially, the Fide office was established to promote missionary work across the globe. Still, the reality was that it constituted an essential office for the maintenance and dilation of the Church’s power in an ever-expanding world.

Arriving in the papal capital around 1640, Nicolosi studied letters, sciences, geography, and languages. In 1642, he published his Theory of the Terrestrial Globe, a small treatise on mathematical geography, and a few years later, his guide to geographic study was issued, a short treatise on cosmography and cartography. Both works reflected a Ptolemaic worldview, but his guide to geographic analysis would soon serve as an introduction to Nicolosi’s real magnum opus, Dell’ Ercole e Studio Geografico, first published in 1660. On the other hand, his Theory of the Terrestrial Globe brought Nicolosi to the attention of broader scientific circles. It earned him the Chair of Geography at the University of Rome. In late 1645, he traveled to Germany at the invitation of Ferdinand Maximilian of Baden-Baden, where he remained for several years until he returned to Rome. Here, Nicolosi was appointed chaplain of the Borghesiana in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. This honor was conferred on him by Prince Giovanni Battista Borghese, whom Nicolosi had tutored and in whose palace he had lived since 1651. Years later, Nicolosi would thank the prince for his generosity by dedicating his most seminal work to him.

A considerable collection of Nicolosi’s unpublished work exists in the Vatican and other national archives. This includes a large chorographic (i.e. descriptive) map of all of Christendom, commissioned by Pope Alexander VII, and a full geographic description and map of the Kingdom of Naples, which was sent to Habsburg Emperor Leopold I in 1654.

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Mexicum In hac forma in lucem edebat Ioannis Baptistae Nicolosii S.T.D.

From mysterious Vatican sources: The first accurate map of the Rio Grande and its tributaries!

Cartographer(s): Giovanni Battista Nicolosi

Place/Date: Rome / [First state] 1660
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[World] Continentem Dudum Notam Componebat . . . (and) Continentem Noviter Detectam Componebat

Two paradigm-setting milestones in one map: the first printed map to use a full globular projection, and the first world map to accurately depict the course of the Rio Grande flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.

Cartographer(s): Giovanni Battista Nicolosi

Place/Date: Rome / [First state] 1660
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[World] Continentem Dudum Notam Componebat . . . (and) Continentem Noviter Detectam Componebat

Two paradigm-setting milestones in one map: the first printed map to use a full globular projection, and the first world map to accurately depict the course of the Rio Grande flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.

Cartographer(s): Giovanni Battista Nicolosi

Place/Date: Rome / [First state] 1660
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Europam et Asiæ partem Sic describere Conabar Ioannes Baptista Nocolosius S.T.D. Secondarily: Imperium Romano-Germanicum Secundum Decem Circulos Diuisum Describebat Ioannes Baptista Nicolosius S.T.D. & Italia Secundum Dominatus Descripta per Ioannem Baptistam Nicolosivm.S.T.D.

Nicolosi’s impressive four-sheet map of Europe, with the Holy Roman Empire and late-Renaissance Italy.

Cartographer(s): Giovanni Battista Nicolosi

Place/Date: Rome / [First state] 1660
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Asia Ex Conatibus Geographicis Ioannis Baptistae Nicolosii S.T.D.

Nicolosi’s gorgeous four-sheet map of Asia.

Cartographer(s): Giovanni Battista Nicolosi

Place/Date: Rome / [First state] 1660
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Africa Ioanne Baptista Nicolosio S.T.D. Sic Describente

A landmark map for the historical cartography of Africa.

Cartographer(s): Giovanni Battista Nicolosi

Place/Date: Rome / [First state] 1660
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FAQs

Why buy an antique map rather than a reproduction?

The answer to this question depends on your goals. If you simply want something to fill a blank wall, a reproduction might be your best approach.

However, reproductions lack the aesthetic qualities of the original. Original authentic objects carry imaginative power from their associations in time and place. A mass-produced object, fundamentally indistinguishable from other members of its production run, will suddenly gain value through its association, as, for example, a baseball that happens to be used for a historic play.

For many, that association is powerful. Like a piece of authentic Louis XV furniture, a map published in the 18th century in France has a history: it has survived revolutions and wars along with the everyday dangers of accident and decay.

In the 1930s, Walter Benjamin famously argued that original works of art had an “aura,” an authenticity related to its time and place. It is this aura, this authenticity, that makes antiques special. It is possible to buy a modern reproduction of an authentic antique. But that reproduction has none of the aura of the original work, none of its imaginative power.

How do I know if my map is real?

Assessing whether a map is real or fake takes a trained eye. The first aspect to determine is how the map was printed. Woodblock cuts, copper or steel plate engravings, and lithographs are the most common printing methods. These types are relatively easy to recognize. A plate etching is precisely that: a motif etched in reverse and then pressed onto the paper. The paper must be of a certain thickness and quality to handle the force, and the printing process will leave an impression outside the map area.

In most cases, the impression is visible to the naked eye and can be felt by running your fingertips over it. When discerning a lithograph from a later offset print, using a strong magnifying glass is best. If the applied image consists of numerous tiny dots, it is an offset; lithographs will appear as a more coherent blob.

So, here are things to consider:
1. Is the paper appropriate to the age of the map?
2. Is the printing style correct? Is there a clear plate mark?
3. Check for obvious marks that it is a legal reproduction.

How do I know if my map has any value?

If it has a title or other large text, it is best to copy this carefully and google it. Most maps are multiples, meaning they have been produced in many copies, and so chances are that some collection, dealer, or auction house somewhere has handled it. This information will only give you a first impression, though, as some maps exist in many different states, which range considerably in value.

Maps speak to us about how humanity’s understanding of the world progressed. Some maps are appealing because they changed how we look at the world, while others are attractive because they reflect a single cartographer’s vision. It is hard to say which resonates more significantly on the market. If your map has age, is authentic, and does not figure a hundred times on eBay for $20, chances are your map might be worth something. Remember that only the rarest maps are very valuable, so even if you find something that looks like it comes with a high price tag, this may not always be the case. If you are in doubt, never hesitate to contact us. We are happy to provide you with a free and non-binding assessment.

Does Neatline have any specific area of focus?

Among our many areas of expertise, the following stand out: San Francisco, California, the American West, Colonial America, Railroad maps, the Northwest Passage, early exploration and mapping, and the scientific mapping of the Middle East.

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