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Map of Europe from 1575 – Cosmographie Universelle de Tout le Monde
Scarce Woodcut Version of Ortelius’ Map of Europe – “Europae”, Belleforest, Francois
This scarce map is a woodcut version of Ortelius’ map of Europe.
The map extends to include Iceland and part of Greenland, and there is a tiny bit of Labrador intruding into the map at upper left. It also extends into western Asia and Northern Africa.
The block cutter attempted to emulate the copper engraving with a stippled sea and Ortelius’ embellishments, but the execution in a woodblock is noticeably coarser.
The map is modestly adorned with a sailing ship, compass rose, and a tent encampment in Russia.
The personification of Europa being abducted by Zeus in the form of a bull graces the title cartouche.
There was only one edition of Belleforest’s Cosmographie, thus the map is scarce and seldom available on the market.
