Slide #332


TITLE: The Pineda Chart

DATE: 1519

AUTHOR: [Alonso Alvarez Pineda]

DESCRIPTION: The earliest known map to correctly show the main outlines of the Gulf of Mexico is this manuscript sheet (43 X 22 cm) attached to a royal authorization of 1521 granting Francesco de Garay, Governor of Jamaica, the right to colonize the country between 'Florida, formerly Bimjni' and Mexico. While it bears neither title nor name of maker, it is presumably the drawing sent to the King of Spain by Garay and constructed by Alonso Pineda and his pilots, who explored the northern coast of the Gulf for Garay. Pineda's expedition demonstrated that there was no passage to the Pacific from the Gulf of Mexico (although the mysterious Darian Strait appeared on many maps of the period from Waldseemüller's map of 1507 on, Slides# 312,313,319, 326,328,332 ); from Mexico southward the coast was already known.

The map is bordered on the north by Florida, on which is inscribed: La Florida que decian Bimini que descrubio Joan Ponce [Florida, said to be Bimini, which was discovered by Juan Ponce (de Leon)]. Thence the coast curves westward to a point where we read: Hasta aqui descrubio Joan Ponce [As far as this, extends the discovery of Juan Ponce - approximately presentday Apalachee Bay]; then to another bearing the inscription: Desede aqui comenco de descubrir Francesco de Garay [From here, Francesco de Garay commenced discovery - approximately present-day Appalachicola], and to the mouth of a wide river named Rio del Spiritu Santo, evidently one of the mouths of the Mississippi. From the latter the coastline assumes the shape of a semi-circle, extending to a large projecting peninsula which can only be Yucatan, although nameless and absolutely connected with the mainland (a rather novel representation on a Spanish chart of 1519 since many cartographers preferred to misrepresent the Yucatan as an island). The coast then continues westward as far as El Darian (present-day Panama). There is also a legend which must be noted, as it marks the limits of the discoveries accomplished in those regions, (in translation):

As far as this, westward, Francesco de Garay did discover, eastward, as far as the

Cape de las higueras [of figs], which was discovered by the Pinzons and the priviledge to settle the country was granted to them.

LOCATION: In Archivo de Indias, Seville, Spain

REREFENCE:

Wroth, L.C.,The Voyages of Giovanni da Verrazzano, 1524-28, Plate 16




Index of Renaissance Maps