CRETA IOVIS MAGNI MEDIO IACET INSULA PONTO
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Stunning map of Crete filled with details of towns, rivers and mountain ranges. The mythical labyrinth of the Minotaur is located near the center of the island. Although many of the maps in Quad's Europae Totius Terrarum Orbis Partis Praestantissimae were based on maps by Ortelius, this map of Crete is apparently based on classical sources.
The map is embellished with a blank coat of arms, a cartouche containing Latin and Greek text on the island, and a stippled sea.
Published by Johannes Bussemacher, whose imprint appears adjacent to the distance scale. Latin text on verso.
Excellent old hand colour
Mint condition
References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara #236-57.
Publication: Europae Totius Terrarum Orbis Partis Praestantissimae…
code : M4501
Cartographer : QUAD Matthias
Date : 1596 Cologne
Size : 23.5 * 31 cms
availability : Sold
Price : Sold
Matthias Quad (1557-1613) was a geographer, humanist and engraver who studied in Heidelberg and later worked from both Cologne and Heidelberg. Quad was an important figure in Cologne, publishing under a number of pseudonyms as well as his own name, during this early period and would certainly have come under the influence of Frans Hogenberg who engraved the maps for Ortelius' "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" and who, with Georg Braun, involved Quad in engraving some of the maps in their great town book, the "Civitates Orbis Terrarum". Quad helped to establish Cologne as the centre of German map production and consequently established the city's important role in terms of European cartography at this time.
