Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Novae insvlae XXVI nova tabvla

Novae insvlae XXVI nova tabvla

Novae insvlae XXVI nova tabvla

Sebastian Münster

Hand coloured wood engraving

M2 122/1552/1


This map first appeared in 1540 in Sebastian Munster’s publication of Ptolemy’s Geographia and in later editions until 1552. It was also issued in many editions of Munster’s Cosmographia from 1544 to 1628.

Munster’s map is the earliest to show the whole continent of America and the first to use Magellan’s name, Mare Pacificum (Pacific Ocean). Magellan’s galleon, Victoria, is shown near the straits of Magellan.


A feature of the map of North America is the dominance of the sea of Verrazzno – a cartographical error created by explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano thanks to his exaggerated description of the Pamlico Sound in 1524. 


Sebastian Munster died in Basel in 1552 of the plague.


Part of South America is shown as being inhabited by cannibals – this is discussed in the Latin text on the verso of the map.


The map also includes the first appearance of Japan on a map, before European contact – it was based on the legends of early explorers such as Marco Polo.