Planisphere of Apianus

The planisphere of Apianus , drawn in 1520 by Petrus Apianus, takes again and supplements the Planisphère of Waldseemüller of 1507. It is the older second Planisphère known to use the legend “America provincia” for the South America.

Description

This Estampe of 41 × 28,5 centimetres is entitled Tipus Orbis universalis Iuxta Ptolomei Cosmographi Traditionem and Americi Vespucii Aliorque Lustrationes has Petro Apiano Leysnico Elucbrat An. C. M.DXX. ( Chart of the world based on the Cosmography of Ptolémée and Amerigo Vespucci, drawn by Petrus Apianus in 1520 ). Like the Planisphere of Waldseemüller of 1507, this map of the world uses a projection cordiforme truncated, which as well as possible makes it possible to respect the proportions. Truncation is in the south that in this one, which makes it possible to represent the southern extremity of the South America. She yet was not discovered by Ferdinand Magellan, and is drawn with the same latitude as the Cape of Good Hope: it is possible that is the result of a former confusion of the Rio of Plata with a sea giving towards the west.

The most important difference with the planisphere of Waldseemüller is the existence of a strait between North America and South America, which allow a Western navigation towards China.

North America is an almost identical copy of that of Waldseemüller. It is a large island, passed in the North-South direction, with the legend Vlteris Terra incognita ( unknown Ground beyond ). With the height of the Mexico the indication Parias is. Parias is described for the first time by Christophe Colomb as being the Paradis, which he “discovers” with the mouth of the Orénoque. Waldseemüller and Apianus make the same error by moving this ground towards north, perhaps with the aim of distinguish the discoveries from Colomb of those of Amerigo Vespucci.

There the legend AMERICA figure besides for South America, following still the example of the planisphere of 1507.

The island of Zipargi (Cipangu) appears with the right extremity (is) chart, with only ten degrees of North America, thus occulting most of the Pacific Ocean.

History

This planisphere was published for the first time in the Polyhistor of Solinus, printed in Vienna in 1520 by Johann Kamers (or Camertius). One then finds it in Situ Orbis of Pomponius Mela, published with Basle in 1522.

Until the redécouverte of a specimen in 1901, the representation of the Planisphère of Waldseemüller was known only via the planisphere of Apianus.

Sources

J. Siebold, Slide #331 Monograph: Tipus Orbis universalis Iuxta Ptolomei Cosmographi Traditionem and Americi Vespucii Aliorque Lustrationes have Petro Apiano Leysnico Elucbrat An. C. M.DXX. , lira in line
William Abbatt, Elroy McKendree Avery, has History off the United States and Its People: From Their Earliest Records to the Present Time , 1904, page 238 to off read in line (Google Books)
Justin Winsor, Narrative and Critical History America , 1884, page 122, to read in line (Google Books)
Thomas Suárez, Shedding the Veil: Mapping the European Discovery off America and the World , World Scientific, ISBN 9810208693, pages 51-55

Random links: