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Antique 1598 Sebastian Munster Woodcut Map - Cosmographia Basle, Europe/Islands
Item for sale is a magnificent, original 16th-century woodcut leaf from Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographia, published in Basle, 1598. This extraordinary piece of Renaissance cartography is a true collector’s item, offering a window into the 16th-century geographical understanding of the world. The map is professionally framed and ready for display.
Item Details
Maker: Sebastian Münster (1489–1552)
Origin: Cosmographia (Cosmographia Universalis), Basle
Date: Circa 1598
Medium: Original woodcut on laid paper with hand-applied color
Dimensions (Frame): Approximately 6.75 x 11.4 inches (16.5 x 29.2 cm)
Condition: Very good antique condition with light, expected toning consistent with a 400+ year-old document. Professionally framed.
Historical Significance
Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographia was one of the most influential and widely read books of the 16th century. It served as a landmark achievement in the Renaissance, attempting to bridge the gap between ancient geographical knowledge (such as that of Ptolemy) and the rapidly expanding horizons of the "Age of Exploration." This leaf, featuring detailed text and cartographic illustrations, reflects the era's unique blend of scientific inquiry, mythological narrative, and descriptive geography. Münster was not merely a mapmaker but a polymath—a professor of Hebrew, a historian, and a cartographer—whose work shaped the European worldview for over a century.
Why Collect Münster?
Münster’s maps and city views are highly prized by collectors for their historical importance and distinct artistic style. His work provides invaluable insight into how the scholars of the Reformation era perceived their world, its borders, and its legendary islands. Holding a piece of the Cosmographia is owning a foundational document in the history of global exploration and printed media.
About the Maker: Sebastian Münster
Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and Hebrew scholar. Based in Basle, he was a pivotal figure in the revival of geography in 16th-century Europe. His Cosmographia, first published in 1544, was the earliest description of the world in the German language and remained an authoritative text for over a century. Münster’s work was renowned for its ambition to document not only geography and astronomy but also the history, ethnography, flora, and fauna of every known land.
