A superb PREVIOUSLY UNRECORDED example of this celebrated two sheet separately published ‘Lafreri’ school world map. The rarity of such Italian maps of the period is well known and the most desirable of them all are those of the world. The map was originally published by Paolo Forlani (fl.1560-71) in Venice who was born in Verona. This second state is by Claudio Duchetti (fl.1554-85) a publisher in Venice and Rome and a nephew to Antonio Lafreri. He succeeded him to some of the business. This map bears the additional imprint of Giovanni Orlandi of Rome. An engraver and publisher he acquired several ‘Lafreri’ school maps in the period 1600-04. An indication of how few examples of the plate had been pulled in any state is the freshness of the engraving and the fact that Orlandi’s imprint reflects no more discernible wear than the rest of the plate.

Geographically the map represents the Renaissance knowledge of the period and just pre-dates acceptance of Giacomo Gastaldi’s Strait of Anian in the North Pacific. Instead there is a land bridge between North America and Asia. ‘Quivera’ is named which now falls in the region of Kansas, this is a result of Coronado’s travels. Below this lies the ‘Golfo de Tonza’ which separates the two continents, here lies one main island named ‘Cimpaga’ representing Japan. In the American south west we find the more familiar ‘Cibola’ or the fabled Seven Cities. California is a well drawn peninsula following the recent Spanish voyages along the coast however the Yucatan is an island. On the other coast of America ‘Canada’ makes an early appearance on a printed map. Forlani had indeed been the mapmaker who first introduced the name in 1560. Knowledge of Jacque Cartier’s second voyage is revealed with the presence of ‘Ochelay’ (Montreal) and ‘Soguenai Pro’. ‘Lago’ nearby is deemed to refer to Lake Champlain. Further south ‘C. de s maria’ is derived from Giovanni Battista Ramusio’s map of 1534 following knowledge of the Gomes and or Ayllon voyages. The mythical island of ‘Brasil’ lies off the Atlantic coast.

In the southern continent of ‘Terra Australis’ there is evidence of firsthand knowledge. New Guinea is marked as ‘discoperta nuova’ or newly discovered. ‘Terra de Vista’ refers to earlier confused Portuguese accounts and ‘Terra de Lucach’ is kingdom named in the accounts of Marco Polo. This latter feature would later be taken up by Gerard Mercator. The overall intent of the map was clearly scientific and not decorative. The inclusion in the corners of descriptive text rather than ornamentation supports that. Here we find descriptions of the regions of the world, the climatic zones, how the map was drawn and the obligatory dedications to patrons and nobility. Imago Mundi III (Tooley – Italian Atlases) no. 15; Shirley 121; Tooley’s Dictionary; Woodward, D. (Forlani) no. 82.