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Description
World atlas containing 11 nautical charts, table of declinations, etc.: 1. f. 2v: Table of declinations 2. f. 3: Armillary sphere 3. ff. 3v-4: Zodiac 4. ff. 4v-5: Pacific Ocean with portions of North America, South America, Asia, and East Indies 5. ff. 5v-6: Atlantic Ocean with portions of North America, South America, Europe, and Africa 6. ff. 6v-7: Indian Ocean, Africa, and southern Asia 7. ff. 7v-8: British Isles and central Europe 8. ff. 8v-9: Iberian peninsula and northwest Africa 9. ff. 9v-10: Western Mediterranean 10. ff. 10v-11: Central Mediterranean and Italy 11. ff. 11v-12: Eastern Mediterranean area and Aegean Sea 12. ff. 12v-13: Black Sea 13. ff. 13v-14: Oval map of the world (showing 2 routes: from Spain to Peru, and around the world via the Moluccas) 14. ff. 14v-15: Atlantic hemisphere with Antarctic continent (incomplete) Title from printed catalog. Parchment, ff. ii + 14 (13 sheets folded in center and pasted back to back) + i; 242 x 171 mm. (map size, 193 x 295 mm. on double page openings). Bifolia attached sequentially. Single gold ruled borders. Modern pencilled foliation. Black and red ink for nomenclature in a minuscule script with square capitals as display script; land masses outlined in blue ink with islands painted gold, green, or red; each chart has one simple compass rose with usual 32 rhumb line network in black, red, and green ink for the principal directions; latitude and longitude marked by numbers on charts ff. 4v-5, 5v-6, and 6v-7 only; distance indicated by a series of dots, or dots and circles, placed diagonally in one corner of each chart (omitted on ff. 12v-13). No decoration except on ff. 4v-5 (forest), 5v-6 (forest and vignette of Mexico City), 6v-7 (8 wind-heads), and 13v-14 (vignette of Mexico City, mountains, rivers, and 12 wind-heads). Atlas in the characteristic style of Battista Agnese, probably made in Venice (since he worked there and Venetian linguistic forms appear in map notations) between 1543 and 1545 (later than HM 25 and earlier than HM 10 and HM 27) judging from geographical features. Bound, s. XVI, in Italian red morocco over wooden boards with 2 rectangles stamped in gold containing fleurets in the corners and 2 ornamental designs (same as on HM 25) on front and back covers; 4 clasps. Inside back binding is a place for a compass needle which would operate with the wind-rose drawn on the back pastedown. HM 26. The Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.
Extent
1 volume, 14 leaves : parchment ; 242 x 171 mm. (10 x 14 in.)
Early maps Nautical charts--Early works to 1800 World maps--Early works to 1800 Manuscripts Italy 16th century. (aat) Maps 16th century. (aat) Portolanos Italy 15th Century.(aat) Atlases (Geographic) Italy 15th Century. (rbgenr)
Source
Manuscripts, Huntington Digital Library
Provenance
Arms of first owner (?) on f. 2: or a swan's (or eagle's) head sable issuant from a cloud azure, holding in its beak a horse-shoe proper; sold by Ellis Booksellers, London, 1864, to Henry Huth (1815-78). His bookplate on front pastedown and pencilled note "Portolano (4) p. 1171" and "1550" referring to The Huth Library (1880) pt. 4, 1171. On back pastedown pencilled note "H 5916" referring to the sale of Alfred Henry Huth (1850-1910), Sotheby's, 1917, pt. VI, lot 5916, with reproduction of chart ff. 5v-6, to G. D. Smith from whom it was acquired by Henry E. Huntington.
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