De Orbis Situ tres, accuratissime emendati, unà cum commentariis Joachimi Vadiani Helvetii castigatioribus, & multis in locis.

(28) 196 (58) p. Contemporary Leather, Folio. H. 33 x W. 22 cm.

The third edition with the commentary of Joachim Vadian with some contemporary notes in Latin, was issued with the first edition of Oronce Fine’s full-sheet woodcut map of the world dated 1531, the first printed map to depict the world from the poles.

Its influence can be seen in Mercator’s world map of 1538 and its derivatives, including Floriano’s world map of 1555, as well as with later maps such as de Jode’s. The map is significant for several reasons: the four islands at the north pole and the depiction of the European, Asian, and American continents as “a contiguous landmass”, here the American mainland discoveries shown as the north-eastern extremity of Asia, rather than as a separate continent, along the lines of Contarini and Ruysch, but monumental discoveries have forever altered the coastlines. Fine has extended the eastern coast of North America southward beyond the discoveries of Gomes and Ayllon to a peninsular outline of Florida, which is named, and a reasonable representation of the Gulf coast as described by Pineda in 1519. The South American continent is admirably depicted incorporating discoveries by the Portuguese, including Ferdinand Magellan” (Benevento). The right-hand “heart” is dominated by the large southern continent labeled “Terra Australis recenter inventa, sed nondu[m] plene cognita” (literally “southern land recently found, but not yet fully known”). This comment caused all sorts of trouble, as the earliest recognized discoverer of the South Pole was the Russian Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen in 1820; Captain Cook came close but was thwarted by the dreadful weather when he made his attempt. The alleged similarity of the continent depicted to the rocky coastline of Antarctica (rather than the overlying ice boundary) has led more fanciful writers to postulate knowledge of the region being passed to Fine from maritime cultures who explored the region before the ice formed residents of the lost city of Atlantis, or alien visitors.

Oronce Fine woodcut world map is decorated with floral surroundings, two mermaids, two muscular cherubs, the French royal coat of arms and, at the head of the map, the title in a flowing banner. Finé’s map is also one of the earliest printed maps to show the southern continent as a distinct landmass to counterbalance, cartographically speaking, the northern hemisphere. Unfortunately, in many cases, the margins of surviving copies are badly frayed as after folding once for insertion into the book they were still too wide for the binding.” (Shirley). It is a contemporary brown calf over wooden boards, which are blind-stamped with fillets and scroll rolls. The spine is decorated with six raised bands. The binding is expertly restored. The book has been cleaned and restored, with a few traces of damp staining and soiling. Map restored and margins reinforced. The title page is printed within the ornate woodcut compartment, and the final leaf is blank but for the woodcut device; separate divisional titles for commentary are printed within the same compartment. Loca aliquot, etc., 28 leaves; colophon with the printer’s device and motto, one leaf, recto blank.

Literature: Shirley, R. The Mapping of the World Early Printed World Maps 1472-1700. London 1987: 66. Mickwitz & Miekkavaara, The A.E. Nordenskiold Collection of Maps up to 1800 Helsinki 1979-1995: pp. 74, 90, 106, Pl. XLI(2).Sabin, J. A Dictionary of Books Relating to America, from its Discovery to the Present Time. New York. (1936) 1967: 27539 (state 3). Suarez, T. Early Mapping of Southeast Asia. Singapore 1999: p.98, ill. Fig. 53, ill. Fig. 52, detail. National Library Australia, Mapping Our World. Canberra 2013: p.83, ill. p.82, 84-85. Clancy, R. The Mapping of Terra Australia. Sydney 1995: p.106, p.122-123, ill. Map 8.1.; European Americana 530/30; Harrisse, Vetustissima 157; JCB I:102; Sabin 63958.