"Russiae Moscoviae et Tartariae Descriptio Autore Antonio Jenkensono", Ortelius/Galle

This tiny map is a reduced version of Anthony Jenkinson's map of 1562. It covers Russia and the former Soviet republics in Central Asia. Jenkinson was leader of the Muscovy Company's first expedition to Russia and was the first European to travel widely throughout the region. The map includes many of the illustrations from the folio map including Cossacks, camels, encampments, and a curious burial scene where the dead are hung from trees. A vignette of Ivan the Terrible appears top left. French text on verso.

This map is from the first pocket-sized atlas, Spieghel der Wereld, which was based on Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. The maps were engraved on copper by Filips Galle and represented all regions around the world. The maps were accompanied by text prepared by Peter Heyns, who used the text from the Theatrum. The numbers printed above the maps, adjacent to the letterpress title, indicate the number of the map within the Theatrum. This innovative, small atlas was designed to reach the lower middle class, and was a commercial success, prompting numerous reprints and imitations. The first edition of the Spieghel der Wereld was published in 1577, with subsequent editions published in French in 1579 and 1583, Dutch in 1583 and 1596, and Latin in 1585. One unique feature of this pocket atlas was the inclusion of 6 larger, fold-out maps of the world, Europe, France, Germania, the Low Countries and Italy that were included alongside 66 miniature maps.

References: King (2nd Ed.) pp. 64-65 & 88-89; Van der Krogt (Vol. III) #1800:331.

Condition: A

A nice impression on a bright sheet with several worm tracks in the blank margins and archival repairs to a chip at top right, well away from the image.