Rare map of continental Africa from Cornelis de Jode’s 'Speculum
Orbis Terrae'. With elaborate illustrations and decorative cartouche.

The map presents a synthesis of previous African cartography.
It combines the continental outline first pioneered by Giacomo Gastaldi, the interior
details of Gerard Mercator’s 1569 world map, and coastal features from the
work of Abraham Ortelius. This map replaced Cornelis’ father’s earlier map of
Africa in the second edition of Speculum Orbis Terrae.

Kingdoms, regions, mountains, and major bodies of water are clearly
delineated. Coastal settlements are included with a high level of detail, while
inland regions remain relatively bereft of specific settlements. Outside of
Africa, the map includes parts of the western Arabian Peninsula and the
southern Mediterranean. Interestingly, the Pacific is labelled Oceanus
Australis. Ships, sea creatures, and ethnographic figures appear
throughout, complemented by a bejewelled title vignette and a Latin inscription naming Africa's five regions.

Published in Antwerp in 1593, the second edition of Speculum
Orbis Terrae was both a continuation and an expansion of Gerard de
Jode’s 1578 atlas, which had sought to rival Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis
Terrarum. Despite the commercial dominance of Ortelius’ atlas, Cornelis’
work demonstrates an exceptional command of geographic knowledge and engraving
technique, producing maps widely regarded as superior in both accuracy and
aesthetic quality. Both editions are considered rare in the contemporary market.

Uncoloured. [AFR3132]