A rare copper engraved chart of Portugal from the surveys of Fernando Alvares Seco. About him we know virtually nothing, his family were well known and influential and quite possibly originally from Milan. This map is the only contemporary record of his existence. The map is dated in the dedication 1561 and was first published in Rome possibly as late as 1565 by Michele Tramezini. A larger Dutch edition was separately published in 1565 by Gerard de Jode. This fine engraving by Jan and Lucas van Deutecum is highly decorated with sailing ships, sea monsters and a large, but simple, compass rose and finished with a strapwork style title cartouche. With Latin text on the verso.

Gerard de Jode (1509-91) was born in Nijmegen but started his career in Antwerp as a printer and engraver. He also bought and sold maps and was a frequent attendee at the Frankfurt book fair. Many of the maps he acquired formed the basis for his ‘Speculum Orbis Terrarum’ of 1578. He was up against the competition of Abraham Ortelius’ ‘Theatrum Orbis Terrarum’ which had an 8 year advantage on him. Despite the fact that De Jode was 18 years his senior and that in 1564 he had published the Ortelius world map in 8 sheets their relationship turned sour. Ortelius used his influential contacts and more aggressive marketing to promote his own work and delay that of de Jode. Correspondence survives indicating de Jode’s application for a licence was rejected, probably until that of Ortelius’ expired. The first edition is of great rarity. Gerard de Jode died in 1591 and the business was carried on by his widow and his son, Cornelis. He was more of a publisher than an engraver but it was enough for his revised and enlarged second edition to prove more popular. Conde (2003) p. 96; Karrow (1993) 67/1.3; Koeman (1967-70) pp. 205-12; Van der Krogt (1997-2003) 6300:32.