Very rare horological map of the world

Description

This uncommon German world map by an anonymous cartographer is a very early example of thematic mapping. Its intent is to show time differences around the world, practically making it an early time zone map. On this, the German text below the title of the map says that it is “showing in a new and easy way what time it is in every place, where it is day and night, how long the night is, and where and when an eclipse can be seen.”

For interpretation of its various features, the map uses elaborate scales along all borders of the map. Among other, these provide precise demarcations of – horizontally – divisions of latitude and hours of the day and – vertically – longitude and time zones. A note in German text at the bottom of the map advises that instructions for its “correct use” can be found in “the printed report of the third part of the Gnomonices, in the fourth chapter”. This refers to the publication which the present map is from – Eberhard Welper's Neu-vermehrte Welperische Gnomonica, which deals with the design and construction of sundials. It was published in several editions, between about 1625 and 1708, in Nuremberg.

Cartographically, the map displays the following notable features:

• It is centred on the Pacific Ocean, with the prime meridian going through El Hierro (Ferro).
• Eurasia and North America appear distorted and disproportionate.
• The northeast coast of Asia is severely truncated.
• Japan features Meaoco, a spelling variant of Miaco or Meaco, which were historically used as foreign spellings for Kyoto, the capital of Japan at the time the map was created.
• The Great Wall of China is depicted.
• The mythical Lake Chimay is shown but not named.
• The semi-mythical Strait of Anián (Fretum Anian) appears, separating Asia and North America.
• California is presented as a peninsula.
• An enormous Terra Australis Incognita is portrayed, with New Guinea attached to it.
• Relief and vegetation are depicted pictorially.

The map is enclosed by a decorative border and embellished with miniature rowing boats, galleons, and sea monsters.

A very scarce and unique example of an early thematic map.

Publication

Neu-vermehrte Welperische Gnomonica, oder, Gründlicher Unterricht und Beschreibung : wie man alle regulare Sonnen-Uhren auf ebenen Orten leichtlich aufreissen, ... beschreiben, und ... künstlich eintragen, wie auch ... verzeichnen, nechst denen ... kunstmässig verfertigen soll [1625-1708]

Note: Image shows pagination annotation (pag: 110.) at bottom right. Above it, the letter “h” is displayed.

Condition

Very good.

A sharp impression on a clean sheet. Issued folding, now flattened. Minor faint spotting and staining, contained to right blank margin. Tiny tear, contained to upper left blank margin. Minor creasing at centre bottom.

Reference

Shirley #330

Item #: 02580

US $3,200.00

other currencies