Sebastian Münster (1488-1552) - Sea Monster Devouring a Man off the Coast of Norway, Cosmographia - Woodcut (c. 1560-1580)

This is a woodcut of a sea monster from Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia, printed on a page of "Das Vierdte Buch", the fourth book of the German edition, in the chapter on Norway, with the arms of Norway at the head of the page. The page numbering in Roman numerals points to one of the German editions published in Basel before 1588, issued by Heinrich Petri and his son Sebastian Henricpetri after Münster's death in 1552.

The woodcut shows a huge fish with gaping jaws and great teeth seizing a man from the waves, while another figure flees along the shore. The text beside it tells of the mighty fish that wash up on the coast of Norway, called "Balena" in Latin and "Walfisch" in German, some of them several hundred ells long, and of the dangerous waters near the castle of Wardhus. Such images, inspired by the sea monsters of Olaus Magnus, are among the most sought-after illustrations of the Cosmographia. On the reverse is the chapter "Von den Mitnächtigen Ländern" on the northern lands, Gothia and Gotland, with a large woodcut coat of arms.

The Cosmographia, first published in Basel in 1544 by Heinrich Petri, Münster's stepson, was enlarged in each new edition and issued in German, Latin, French, Italian and Czech until 1628. It was the most widely read description of the world in the sixteenth century, illustrated with woodcut maps, town views and scenes of daily life.

Sebastian Münster (1488-1552) was a German cosmographer, cartographer and Hebrew scholar, professor at the University of Basel.

Artist or Maker: Sebastian Münster
Dimensions: Approximately 33 cm x 21 cm (13.0 in x 8.3 in)
Medium: Woodcut
Date: c. 1560-1580
SKU: Munster54704_BAG

____

Shipping & Combined Purchases:

We are happy to combine multiple purchases into one shipment, helping you save on shipping costs. Please contact us before making payment so that we can calculate and adjust the shipping cost accordingly.

All items are professionally packed and shipped from France by Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) on behalf of Dahlströms Rare Prints OÜ, Estonia.

Every shipment is fully insured and sent exclusively via UPS or FedEx, with tracking provided after dispatch.

We handle every shipment with the utmost care, ensuring that our antique prints, maps and rare books arrive safely and in the condition described.