Tabula Nouarum Insularum, quas diuersis respectibus Occidentales & Indianas uocant (The First Map of America)
Hand-colored woodcut map on paper • Sebastian Münster (Cartographer and scholar)
Style & Movement
Renaissance / Age of Discovery Cartography
Medium & Technique
Woodcut printing with hand-applied watercolor washes. The map features decorative woodblock topography, a large Portuguese carrack, and calligraphic text labels.
Creation Period
Circa 1540 (First published in Munster's edition of Ptolemy's Geographia)
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 25 x 34 cm (image size), presented in a landscape format.
Subject Description
A seminal map of the Americas showing 'Nouus orbis' (the New World). It depicts North America, South America (labeled 'Die Nüw Welt'), and the Caribbean islands. Noteworthy elements include the depiction of the Strait of Magellan, the Pacific Ocean (Mare pacificum), and a large ship in the lower left symbolizing European exploration. It famously includes ethnographic details such as cannibalistic imagery in the Brazil region.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good; showing typical signs of age such as slight marginal toning and minor foxing. The hand-coloring appears to be later than the original printing.
Estimated Market Value
$3,000 - $5,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$2,500 - $4,500 USD
Provenance History
Likely sourced from a 16th-century edition of Münster's 'Cosmographia' or 'Geographia'. Many copies entered private collections via map dealers in the 20th century.
Art Historical Significance
This is the first map to show North and South America as a continuous landmass separate from Asia. It is one of the most important and influential maps of the 16th century, defining the European conception of the Western Hemisphere for decades.
Notable Features
Includes the 'Zipangri' (Japan) label off the west coast, the Portuguese flag over the Atlantic, and the decorative caravel ship which reflects the maritime technology of the period.
Condition Issues
Visible centerfold (usual for book-issued maps), light foxing in the upper margins, and slight acidic transfer from historical framing/storage.
Conservation Recommendations
Conservation-grade deacidification treatment recommended; mount using reversible Japanese paper hinges and UV-protective glass in a climate-controlled environment.