Description
Double-page woodblock map of Southeast Asia, a landmark in the cartography of region, being the first printed map to focus on Malaya, Indochina and the East Indies. It was based on Waldseemuller’s large 1507 cordiform world map.
The mythical Lake Chiang Mai, labeled Lamia Lacq, is located at the top border. The islands are placed in a barely recognizable fashion including Iava Maior in roughly the position of Borneo. The map’s nomenclature is derived principally from Marco Polo. A small vignette illustrating cannibalism is set in the island of Angama (Andaman Islands), which is misplaced to the east of Java.
Cartographer(s):
Laurent/Lorenz Fries (ca. 1485-1532) was born in Alsace circa 1490 and studied medicine and mathematics at a number of European universities. He was trained as a physician but was also keenly interested in cartography and medical publications. From 1518-19 Fries is mainly based in Strasbourg, where he was commissioned to compile the first edition of Waldseemüller’s atlas after his death in 1520.
Condition Description
Light staining in top margin intruding an inch or so into the map; very good.
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