EXPLORE THE WORLD OF ANTIQUE MAPS

In 1493, the most profusely illustrated book ever printed until that date, the 'Liber chronicarum', appeared. It was the work of Nuremberg doctor Hartmann Schedel, and was printed first in Latin and then reprinted the same year in German by the well-known printer Anton Koberger. This major work is known today as the Nuremberg Chronicle. The book contained two maps, the world and Europe.Our example of Schedel's world map, which is one of the first ever produced, is the Latin edition. The map is based on Ptolemy's measurements (see map 12.) Christopher Columbus' discoveries the previous year have not been included (and only appeared in print for the first time in 1506). Neither has Bartholomew Diaz's discovery of the southern tip of Africa in 1487 (which was included for the first time in another map printed in 1493, which is of extreme rarity.) Because of the popularity of Schedel's book, his world map is not so rare as others of the same period. Hence its much lower price.