SLIDE 357
TITLE: Paris Wooden Globe
DATE: ca. 1535
AUTHOR: unknown
DESCRIPTION: It is made of wood, hence its name; and measures 20
cm in diameter. There is a hole in the middle through which passes an iron
stem fixed on the stand. This globe, which was discovered in Italy in the
1880's, is undated and unsigned. It is covered with a thick layer of paint,
over which the configurations and names have been inscribed with a pen in
a cursive handwriting. The caligraphy is very poor, and evidently not the
work of a professional cartographer.
The delineations and nomenclature proceed from a map belonging to the cartographical
family which commenced towards the year 1523 to bridge over the configurations
of the New World, as set forth in what Harrisse terms the Lusitano Germanic
maps (see Canerio/Waldseemüller, Slides #311/#312),
with delineations suggested, first by the voyage of Magellan (Schöner's
Globe of 1523, Slide #323D), and then by the conquests
of Cortes (Franciscus Monachus, 1526, Slide #326). This is shown by the
profiles of the northeast coast, from Terra Florida to the Baccaalearum,
and on which we find inscribed names which are also on the northwestern
continental region in Cantino and Canerio. These are: Costa alta, Ponta(roixa),
C. santo, C. arlear, C. lutar, Caninor, C. baxo, and Lago de lodro.
The austral lands bear an inscription somewhat suprising. The simple cordiform
map of Finaeus (1531, Slide #362.1) inscribes there: Terra australis
nvper inventa, sed nondvm plene examinata [the austral land, recently
discovered, but not yet entirely explored]. The Wooden Globe modifies the
legend as follows: Terra australis recenter inventa anno 1499, sed nondvm
plene cognita. That is, it gives the date of 1499 for the discovery
of the austral region. Harrisse is inclined to think that it is a reference
to the voyage of Magellan, coupled with an erroneous rendering of the date
in the account of Maximilianus Transylvanus: Soluit itaque Magellanus
die decimo Augusti, Anno. M.D. xix.
The connection of this globe with those belonging to the class where the
New World north of New Spain blends with Asia, is further shown by the names
Terra Francesca (the present-day New England area), and Mare Catayum
given to the Gulf of Mexico. Its most recent geographical data is Peru Provincia,
and, within the borders of the latter, S. Michaelis, that is the colony
which Pizarro planted in the valley of Tangarala in 1532, and to which he
gave that name in acknowledgement of the miraculous assistance alleged to
have been rendered to him by Saint Michael in his battles with the Indians
of Puna. Since the news of the foundation of San Miguel began to circulate
in Europe only in 1534, Harrisse ascribes to the globe the date of circa
1535.
LOCATION: Paris National Library
REFERENCE:
*Harrisse, H., The Discovery of North America, pp. 613-614.
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