"[Lot of 2] Septenirionalium Partium Nova Tabula [and] La Geografia de Claudio Tolomeo Alessandrino…", Ruscelli, Girolamo

This is a reduced version of the landmark Zeno map showing the mythical islands in the North Atlantic and small coastlines of Labrador (Estotiland) and possibly Newfoundland (Drogeo). Frisland is depicted in considerable detail, with many place names indicated. The only cartographic difference between this and the woodcut map published by Zeno is that there is no land bridge between Greenland and Scandinavia on this edition. This is the second state with the misspelled first word in the title, Septenirionalium, and the name Deogeo. Italian text on verso.

In 1558, Nicolo (the Younger) Zeno claimed to have discovered a 14th century manuscript recording a voyage made by his ancestors Nicolo and Antonio. According to the text, in the year 1380 a storm swept the Zenos into the North Atlantic where they found a group of unknown lands named Frisland, Estotiland, Estland, Icaria, and Drogeo. As a result, maps throughout the 16th century continued to show these fictional islands, especially Frisland.

This lot also includes a title page from the first Italian edition of Ptolemy's Geografia by Ruscelli, which was published in 1561 and printed by Vincenzo Valgrisi. It was reissued several times over the subsequent 40 years.

References: Burden #45; Ginsberg #26; Manasek #19.

Condition: B+

There is light toning along centerfold, minor offsetting, and a few small spots. The title page is lightly toned with some faint stains and two owners' signatures: Captain Casella drew an elaborate border in 1805 to cover the previous owner's signature of Maria Durn.