Bilder Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) – Map of the Caucasus Region and Tartaria from the Cosmographia – Woodcut (c. 1550)

Beskrivning

This woodcut map provides a topographical overview of the region between the Black Sea (Pontus Euxinus) and the Caspian Sea, encompassing the historical lands of Colchis, Iberia, Albania, Media, and Armenia. The map details mountain ranges, rivers, and stylized settlements, with Tartaria (Scythia) shown to the north. This illustration is characteristic of the early cartographic efforts in the comprehensive sixteenth century geographical encyclopedia, used to document regions known from classical texts and contemporary travel reports.

Sebastian Münster was a highly influential German cosmographer, geographer, and Hebraist whose primary achievement was the publication of the Cosmographia, one of the first German-language encyclopedias describing the world. The work was immensely popular, providing readers with detailed woodcut illustrations of maps, city views, customs, and natural history, profoundly shaping European understanding of geography in the mid-sixteenth century.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Münster

Dimensions: Approximately 36 cm x 23 cm

Medium: Woodcut

Date: c. 1550

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.