Universalis Orbis Descriptio / Cogimur e…

Rare c.16th woodcut map of the world on an ovaloid projection set within an ornate framework and surrounded by sixteen wind heads by Joannes Myritius (1534-1587).

The map follows the depiction of America joined to Asia as in Giacomo Gastaldi’s large oval world map first printed in 1546.

Myritius is described as the last of the geographers to accept without question, the link between America and Asia. While others of his contemporaies show the Anian Straits, Myritius still follows the 1546 Gastaldi model and joins the two continents. Other maps have also influenced Myritius. His use of a large Terra Australis Incognita with mention of Lucach and naming New Guinea (‘Nova Guinea’) on the Terra Australis landmass (as opposed to the Ortelius model which shows it as an island) is reminiscent of Paolo Forlani’s 1560 world map (Shirley 106).

From: Myritius, Joannes. Opusculum geographicum rarum : totius eius negotii rationem, mira industria et breuitate complectens,…..