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“Europa das ein Drittheil der Erden nach Gelegenheit unsern Zeiten” printed by Heinrich Petri. Basle: Sebastian Munster, c. 1564.

Woodcut engraving with later hand-coloring, printed in German, for Münster’s Cosmographica Universalis. Reference: Potter, p. 98 - illustrated.

One of the earliest obtainable maps of the European continent. Its unusual orientation, with north at the bottom of the sheet and the Mediterranean Sea at top, also makes it one of the most interesting maps of Europe! Topographical features are shown with mountains, forests, rivers and towns located. A large sailing ship adorns the Atlantic Ocean.

Sebastian Munster was the first to make individual maps of each continent, and this map is from that series. The map was issued in both Munster's Geographia and Cosmographia.

The verso has a title block with German text and is illustrated with the full figures of Saints Peter (holding the keys to heaven) & Paul (holding a sword) with the attributes of the four evangelists in the four corners (angel, eagle, lion & ox). This engraving is attributed to Hans Holbein the Younger.