- 92
World--[Forlani, Paolo]
Description
- Vniversale descrittione di tvtta la terra conoscivta fin qvi. Donato Bertelli In Venetia alla libraria del segno del S. Marco. In Merzaria, 1570. Venice, 1570, large engraved world map on 2 sheets joined, size at greatest extent 416 x 750mm., slight separation at old folds, one small area of loss infilled in manuscript
- paper
Condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Unrecorded second state of this "Lafreri school" map of the world, while the first state is recorded by Tooley and Shirley in but two examples, in the British Library, and in the Triester Lloyd atlas, now dispersed.
While the engraving is unsigned, it is clearly in part by the hand of Paolo Forlani, the leading engraver of the Lafreri School of mapmakers and publishers, whose output dominated European cartography between 1544 and 1570. Issued at the height of the school, this rare map is constructed on an oval projection, and decorated with two wind-heads in the upper corners, and all manner of ships and sea-monsters over the face of the seas. That two engravers were employed can be seen in the contrast in the treatment of the sea-monsters on the left and right hand sheets.
Notable features of the map - in common with other world maps by Forlani - are the large southern continent, with all manner of weird and wonderful fauna, and the contiguous landmass linking Asia and North America.
This second state has had the date at bottom right crudely altered from "M.D.LXVIII." to "M.D.LXX." This state is not recorded in Tooley, Maps in Italian Atlases, but cf.14, the first state; this state not recorded in Shirley, Mapping of the World, but cf.118, the first state; Woodward, The Maps and Prints of Paolo Forlani, map 82, notes, disputing the attribution to Forlani, noting a further example in the John Carter Brown Library.