Sebastian Münster - Cosmographia - 1590

Leaf with three beautiful hand-coloured woodcuts by Sebastian Münster depicting an Austrian mediveal battle scen, Duke Friedrich of Austria with the devil, duke Leopold of Austria.

These very old woodcuts were published in Sebastian Münster's "Cosmographey: das ist, Beschreibung Aller Länder" in Basel, Henricpetri, circa 1590.

The work was a vast chronicle of all geographical knowledge of the world up to that time. It contained world maps, as well as views of cities, and woodcuts of historical subjects, mythology, natural history, and ethnography.

Münster was a German cartographer, cosmographer, and Hebrew scholar. He also became a Franciscan monk at a young age. Münster's Cosmographia was the first scientific work in the German language.

Dimensions: 34,6 x 21,5 cm
Good condition, paper slightly browned and with some spots due to age.