Il disegno della Geografia moderna de tutta la parte dell' Africa
Rome: Claudio Duchetti. First state.
Etched and engraved map on two sheets joined (19 1/8" x 24 3/4" sheet; 30 1/2" x 36" framed) with 32-wind compass rose including the initials of wind names in traditional Italian patois.
Overall very good, with some chips to the frame.
A rare Lafreri-type map of Africa engraved by Henricus Honius of Haarlem (often mistaken for Henricus Hondius) and published by Claudio Duchetti, a nephew of Antonio Lafreri (active ca. 1565-ca. 1579) working in Venice and subsequently in Rome, taking over part of the Lafreri business after Antonio's death. The design comes from the Camocio/Forlani map of 1563, but it eschews the illustrations of sea-monsters and galleons, limiting the decoration to a large strap-work title cartouche in the South Atlantic, the compass rose in the Indian Ocean, and a small depiction of the palace of Prester John located just north of the Equator. After the dissolution of the Lafreri workshop the plate went to Stefano Duchetti who listed the map as "L'Africa no 2 fol real" in his joint catalog with Paolo Graziani. In 1586 it is recorded in the inventory of Pietro de Nobili who adds his signature Petri de Nobilibus Formis to the title cartouche and the lower right quadrant. Bifolco/Ronca describe 3 known copies of the first state.
Item #6BD0009
Price: $45,000