Lot #: 85287
ICELAND-FRISLAND. - CARTA DA NAVEGAR DE NICOLO ET ANTONIO ZENI FURONO IN TRAMONTANA LANO MCCCLXXX. . . |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Views: 196
|
Description
The discovery of America by the Venetian Zeni brothers in 1380, - before Columbus??
A large copper engraved map of the North Atlantic region, supposed after a middle age manuscript. Published in the "Annales de Voyages" ,by Malte-Brun, Paris
This interesting map of the North Atlantic is one of the most enduring cartographic mysteries. Known as the Zeno map, it first appeared in Venice in the year 1558 with an account of the exploits of Nicolo and Antonio Zeno into the region in 1380. The brothers allegedly traveled to Frisland (a fictitious island south of Iceland, perhaps the Faroe Islands) and the east coast of Greenland where they heard from the natives of the lands to the west called Estotiland (Labrador) and Drogia (Newfoundland).
The account was published by a Zeno ancestor purportedly from a surviving journal and manuscript map. It was probably created to give Venice, the author's native city, the credit for discovering America more than a century ahead of Columbus.
The map shows the North Atlantic and the countries bordering it, which the author claims is contemporary with the events recounted in the book. It is now known that the narrative was manufactured by the younger Zeno himself not long before the publication of the book, and the same is true of the map.
So it does in no way reflect geographical knowledge in the 14th century. We now know that Zeno's principal sources were Olaus Magnus' map of the North, the Caerte van Oostland of Cornelis Anthoniszoon, and old maps of the North of the Claudius Clavus type with elements taken from southern sea charts of the 15th and 16th centuries.
As for Zeno's Iceland, we need not look far to its sources, it is obviously taken from Carta Marina. The mountains, rivers and all the pictures are gone and the ice floes off the east coast on Olaus' map have become islands. In spite of its discreditable parentage, the Zeno map was to have a remarkable career. For the next 40 years it influenced most maps that were made of Iceland.
The narrative of the Zeno’s adventures was disputed at the time of publication and remained a source of controversy even into the 20th century. Even so, it was still taken seriously by many scholars and cartographers because it delineated certain features of the northern Atlantic regions that cannot be traced on earlier charts that have survived. The map was reproduced for Ruscelli's edition of Ptolemy, used as a source for Mercator's important world map of 1569, incorporated into Ortelius's 1570 map of the Arctic regions.
It was used by early English explorers in search of the Northwest Passage, and its errors in latitude are known to have deceived Frobisher. Thereafter story remained dormant for about a hundred years until it was revived by Forster and Buache in the late 18th century.
The Hakluyt Society published an English translation in 1873 and in 1883 Baron Nordenskiöld argued in favor of the validity of the narrative. Finally in 1898, Frederick Lucas concluded that it was a hoax after an extensive study in which he identified its main source to be Olaus Magnus' Carta Marina, along with other 15th and 16th century maps.
Reference: Burden #26.
A large copper engraved map of the North Atlantic region, supposed after a middle age manuscript. Published in the "Annales de Voyages" ,by Malte-Brun, Paris
This interesting map of the North Atlantic is one of the most enduring cartographic mysteries. Known as the Zeno map, it first appeared in Venice in the year 1558 with an account of the exploits of Nicolo and Antonio Zeno into the region in 1380. The brothers allegedly traveled to Frisland (a fictitious island south of Iceland, perhaps the Faroe Islands) and the east coast of Greenland where they heard from the natives of the lands to the west called Estotiland (Labrador) and Drogia (Newfoundland).
The account was published by a Zeno ancestor purportedly from a surviving journal and manuscript map. It was probably created to give Venice, the author's native city, the credit for discovering America more than a century ahead of Columbus.
The map shows the North Atlantic and the countries bordering it, which the author claims is contemporary with the events recounted in the book. It is now known that the narrative was manufactured by the younger Zeno himself not long before the publication of the book, and the same is true of the map.
So it does in no way reflect geographical knowledge in the 14th century. We now know that Zeno's principal sources were Olaus Magnus' map of the North, the Caerte van Oostland of Cornelis Anthoniszoon, and old maps of the North of the Claudius Clavus type with elements taken from southern sea charts of the 15th and 16th centuries.
As for Zeno's Iceland, we need not look far to its sources, it is obviously taken from Carta Marina. The mountains, rivers and all the pictures are gone and the ice floes off the east coast on Olaus' map have become islands. In spite of its discreditable parentage, the Zeno map was to have a remarkable career. For the next 40 years it influenced most maps that were made of Iceland.
The narrative of the Zeno’s adventures was disputed at the time of publication and remained a source of controversy even into the 20th century. Even so, it was still taken seriously by many scholars and cartographers because it delineated certain features of the northern Atlantic regions that cannot be traced on earlier charts that have survived. The map was reproduced for Ruscelli's edition of Ptolemy, used as a source for Mercator's important world map of 1569, incorporated into Ortelius's 1570 map of the Arctic regions.
It was used by early English explorers in search of the Northwest Passage, and its errors in latitude are known to have deceived Frobisher. Thereafter story remained dormant for about a hundred years until it was revived by Forster and Buache in the late 18th century.
The Hakluyt Society published an English translation in 1873 and in 1883 Baron Nordenskiöld argued in favor of the validity of the narrative. Finally in 1898, Frederick Lucas concluded that it was a hoax after an extensive study in which he identified its main source to be Olaus Magnus' Carta Marina, along with other 15th and 16th century maps.
Reference: Burden #26.
FAQ - Guarantee - Shipping
In our BUY-or-BID sale, you never pay more than the Buy price.
To buy or bid in this Buy-or-Bid sale you must register with us. It is free, and we automatically update you about future auctions.During the Buy-or-Bid sale, you can buy or bid on 600- 900 antique, rare maps, town views, old master prints, decorative prints, atlases, posters and Medieval manuscripts.
- We show the "Bid & Ask spread" (to define the gap between the minimum accepted bid and Buy price.)
- Items that have received bids within the BidAsk spread are sold at the highest bid at closing.
- Once the Buy price is paid, the sale for this item has closed.
Do you have a similar item you want to sell ?
Interested in selling your antique maps, original prints, vintage posters, or historic Ephemera?Let us help you!
Start your consignment today. We provide estimates free of charge from photographs sent via the Internet. Fill out our online estimation form, and we will contact you with an estimate.
Learn more about consigning at RarePaperSales.com
Guarantee
![Certificate of authenticity](/images/cert.jpg)
- Defects in lots have been carefully noted.
- If there are no remarks regarding splits, tears, discoloration, etc., there are no issues to be found for the item!
- All items are carefully and personally examined before being packed "in-house" and shipped by UPS, USPS, DHL or registered mail.
- We do not sell reproductions.
- A certificate of authenticity is provided for each acquired item and can be downloaded from your invoice page.
- Certificates can be found in the Invoice and Certificates center.
Shipping
Maps are shipped in solid tubes or flat between solid cardboard. Fully insured, signature required, and with online tracking. Shortly after shipment, you will get the tracking number by email.The standard is that we ship items by UPS or DHL for European destinations, and a flat shipping fee is added to each shipment. It is a one-time fee even if you buy multiple items. This fee covers shipping and insurance (up to the invoice amount) to:
- North America, Canada, Europe $ 30
- Asia $ 40
- For South America, Mauritius, Africa and Australia a shipping fee of $ 50 will be charged.
We charge only a one-time shipping fee if you have won 2 or more items.
Hold Shipment Service
Rare Paper Sales allows you to put your shipping on hold at no additional charge. This can be incredibly convenient for people who want to buy several items at different auctions and ship them together. The service is free, and you pay only one shipment fee.
Contact us if you want to use the Hold Service.
High-Resolution Digital Image Download |
|
RarePaperSales maintains an archive of most of our high-resolution rare maps, prints, posters and medieval manuscript scans. We make them freely available for download and study. Read more about free image download |