"Irlanda [with] Iceland", Bordone, Benedetto

Extremely early and rare woodblock map with oceans fully colored by a very early hand. Bordone was an 'illuminator' and wood-engraver, working in Venice, when he was given permission by the Senate to print maps of Italy and the world. None of those maps have survived and his remaining work are the maps from the "Island Book", which include islands throughout the world. This map depicts Ireland and part of the coast of England and Wales according to Ptolemy. The Galway Bay is very pronounced with numerous islands. On the recto of the full sheet of Latin text is and equally fascinating map of Iceland, without coloring, including a decorative initial in the text.

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Condition: B

Worm track in margins and some light spotting in text, and a tiny hole affecting both maps.