The Cosmographia would prove to be so popular that some forty editions were published between 1544 and 1628 with vernacular translation in English, French, German, Italian, and Czech. The number of maps expanded as well from twenty-six in the 1544 to two hundred and sixty-two by 1628. Its huge popularity would not only — as Burden states ‘seal the fate of America as the name of the 

’, but would form the basis of general knowledge of many other parts of the world as well.

The ‘Cosmographia’ contains two world maps: the 'Typus Orbis Universalis’, a modern map redesigned for the 1550 edition onwards and the ‘Altera Generalis Tab. Secondum Ptol’, a map of classical geography based on the work of Claudius Ptolemy. 



’s modern world map is on an oval projection with a broad border of clouds and windheads. Created by the engraver David Kandel, it replaced a previous version of this map from the 1544 edition (see also SC-TM-1550-Munster-WorldMap). The title runs across the top of the map outside the neatline, and the titles of the windheads are now in banners. North America is oddly shaped, almost dissected by water, but the earlier note indicating a route to the Moluccas has been omitted.

The Cosmographia includes nine maps of Europe: a complete description titled ‘Moderna Europae Descriptio', with Europe projected ‘upside down’ (south at the top of the map); and eight regional maps showing Spain ('Hispaniae Regionis Nova Descriptio'), France ('Galliae Regionis Nova Descriptio'), Germany ('Germaniae Nationis Descriptio'), Switzerland ('Helvetiae Moderna Descriptio'), Swabia and Bavaria ('Sveviae et Bavariae Descriptio'), Bohemia ('Bohemiae description iuxta insigniores cius civitates & oppida'), Poland and Hungry ('Poloniae et Ungariae nova description'), and Greece ('Nova Graecia'). These modern maps were repurposed from Münster’s 1540 translation of Ptolemy’s ‘

’.  

The ‘Cosmographia’ also includes three maps of the other continents: Asia ('Tabula Orientalis Regionis, Asia'), Africa ('Totius Africae Tabula'), and America ('Tabula Novarum Insularum'). South America is labelled as ‘America’, effectively cementing the term in the minds of Europeans as the name of the continent. The Portuguese flag is shown flying over the South Atlantic and the Spanish one over the Caribbean signifying land claims. The Straits of Magellan are named as is ‘Mare Pacificum’ to name the Pacific Ocean. Ferdinand Magellan’s ship 'Victoria', the only survivor of five vessels, appears in the middle of this ocean. Marco Polo’s influence can be seen with the depiction of Japan (‘Zipangri’) as well as the ‘Archipelagus 7448 Insularu’ a mass of Islands Polo mentions in the South Pacific. The Yucatan is still shown as an island and the lake at Temistitan is depicted emptying into the Gulf of Mexico.

North America is not shown as accurately as the southern half of the continent. To a large extent, it had been neglected by European explorers and therefor remained a mystery to cartographers. The only placenames occurring here are ‘C. Britonum’, marking England’s early explorations, ‘Corterati’, probably Newfoundland after Corte Reals, and ‘Terra Florida’ over the south-eastern portion of the continent. 

 (1488–1552) was a cosmographer and professor of Hebrew who taught at Tübingen, Heidelberg, and Basel. After converting to Protestantism in 1529, he took over the chair of Hebrew at the University of Basel, where he published a two-volume Old Testament in Hebrew with a Latin translation. In Basel, Münster made himself the centre of a large network of scholars from whom he obtained geographic descriptions, maps, and directions. He remained in Basel until his death in 1552. 

Münster published his first known map, a map of Germany, in 1525. Three years later, he released a treatise on sundials. In 1540, he published ‘

 Universalis Vetus et Nova’, an updated edition of Claudius Ptolemy’s ‘

’ (see SC-A-1540-Munster). In addition to the Ptolemaic maps, Münster added twenty-one modern maps that would influence Ortelius and other early atlas makers. He is best known, however, for this work ‘Cosmographia Universalis’ first published in 1544 and released in at least thirty-five editions by 1628. Münster was assisted by more than 120 collaborators, including artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger, Urs Graf, Hans Rudolph Manuel Deutsch, and David Kandel.

The 'Cosmographia' is the most famous work of 

, a hugely influential cosmographer and mapmaker. Münster was also well-known for his radical new edition of Claudius Ptolemy's '

', which contained exciting new modern maps.

This edition of the 'Cosmographia' is in remarkably fine condition. It contains both of Münster's famous world maps, along with maps of America, Asia, and Africa, 9 maps of Europe, 3 folding panoramas, 38 double-page city views, 8 full-page city views and over 1,000 woodcut illustrations and diagrams, as well as Münster's delightful drawing of sea monsters.

The illustrations were created by an illustrious roster of artists who included Hans Holbein the Younger, Urs Graf, Hans Rudolph Manuel Deutsch and David Kandel.


World map as an oval

World map using Ptolemy's second projection

Modern map of Europe

New map of Spain 

Map of Gaul, France Ptolemy map #2 of Europe

Ptolemaic map #4 of Europe, Germany

Map of Switzerland

Map of the regions of Swedes and the Bavarians

Bohemia next to town and cities

Poland and Hungary 

Greece

Region of Afia 

Map of Africa

Map of the New World 

Frontispiece

Metal workers

Unknown city view

Lutetia France, city view

Geneva 

Gaul map 

Rome city view

Venice city view

Amphitheatre in Verona

Florence city view

Map of the Neapolitan region

Map of Sardinia

Map of Sicily 

Frontispiece 

Valère Basilica, Switzerland 

Lake Geneva

The first treaty of Germany

Deurne, Belgium

Solothurn, city view

Bern, city view

Map of Auentico

Baden, city view

Basel, map

Silver mines of Lehenlahn

Silver workers

Factory, of mixing, of melting silver

Langbroek, Netherlands city view

Colmar, France city view

Sélestat, France

Offenburg, Germany, city view

Landoia, Imperial City, city view

Speyer, Germany, city view

Bormacia, Netherlands, city view

Map of Eyfalia, West Germany

Koblenz, Germany, city view

Cologne, Germany, city view

Lindau, Germany, city view

Freiberg, Germny, city view

Nördlingen, Germany, city view

Augsburg, Germany

Florence, Italy

Fridingen, Germany, city view

Unknown city in Germany, city view

Frankfurt, Germany, city view 

Map of Pannonia, Austria 

Vienna, Austria, city view

City views in Austria

Lüneburg, Germany, city view

List of the Princes of the most important Germany cities

Illustration of marine and terrestrial animals 

Map of Hungary and Transylvania 

City view of Constantinople

The lands of Alfia minor

Map of Gaul

Dürer's rhinoceros 

Exceptionally fine example, in superb condition, inside and out, and very rare as such, of the fourth and best Latin edition, updated to 1559, the year of publication.

Contemporary, elaborately decorated blind-panelled pigskin over beveled oak boards, brass clasps, and catches, the title in manuscript on a paper label at the head of the spine.

Folio. Latin text. [1] leaf letterpress titlepage with woodcut architectural border and portrait of Munster on verso, pages 2-4, [5-6] dedication and catalogue, [6] leaves index, pages numbered 1-[1163] 'Cosmographiae…', printer’s device on verso. 2 fine double-page woodcut world maps, maps of America, Asia, Africa, and 9 maps of Europe, 3 folding panoramas, 38 double-page city views, 8 full-page city views, and more than 900 woodcut half-page vignettes, small vignettes and diagrams in the text, including some by Hans Holbein the Younger, Urs Graf, Hans Rudolph Manuel Deutsch, and David Kandel. 

A Universal Cosmography

Cosmographiae Universalis

Münster's Universal Cosmography

VI books, in which are described, according to the tradition of historians of certain faith, the habitable sites of all parts of the world...and a history of all remarkable acts up until this year 1559

Lib. VI in quibus iuxta certerioris fidei scriptorum traditionem describuntur, Omnium habitablis orbis partium situs...atque memorabilium in hunc usque annum 1559 gestarum rerum Historia.