This is one of the earliest and most beautiful maps of Portugal. It is oriented with north to the right and richly adorned with two large cartouches, sailing ships and a very devilish-looking sea monster. The map is based on Fernando Alvarez Secco's map of 1560. The cartouche at bottom contains a dedication to Cardinal Camerlengo, Guido Ascanius Sfortia, from Secco that enumerates the great achievements of Portugal. This is from the first copper plate from the German edition of 1572.

References: Van den Broecke #26.

Condition: B+

A dark impression with full contemporary color on a sturdy sheet with the watermark of a small coat of arms with the initial "B." There is a bit of printer's ink residue particularly along the centerfold, light soiling, and a few minute worm holes only visible when held to light. There are centerfold separations that have been repaired with old paper, with the top separation repaired on verso and the bottom separation repaired on recto. Narrow side margins, as issued.