1578-1588 – S. Munster – Königlichen Statt Edinburg

​Title:           Beschreibung der Königlichen Statt Edinburg durch Alexandrum von Ales, Doctorem der Heyligen Geschrifft
                                     (Description of the Royal City of Edinburgh by Alexander Ales, Doctor of Holy Scripture)
Description:

This is one of the earliest printed views of Edinburgh. It was made for Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographia from the account of Alexander Ales (Alesius, 1500–1565), an Edinburgh-born theologian who became a Lutheran and fled to Germany. The view was added to the Cosmographia in 1550 and was the first city of the British Isles to appear in the work. The woodcut is by Hans Rudolf Manuel Deutsch, whose monogram “RMD” appears at the lower right. Unknown issue of Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographey.

Edinburgh is seen from the north across the Firth of Forth (“Brachium maris”), with the port of Leith (“Letha”), a ship at anchor and a small boat in the foreground. The compass points are named in the margins (“Meridies”, “Occidens”, “Septentrio”). A lettered key identifies:

• A, the King’s Palace (Holyrood);
• B, the “Magten Schloß” (Castle of Maidens, Edinburgh Castle);
• C, St Cuthbert’s;
• D, St Giles;
• E, Greyfriars;
• F, St Mary in the Fields (Kirk o’ Field);
• G, the Queen’s College;
• H, Blackfriars;
• K, Holyrood Abbey.

Ales’s description sets Edinburgh in Lothian, one Italian mile from the Firth, between “Arthur’s Seat” (“Arthmus Sessel”) and a second hill. He writes that:

• the city is built on a ridge “like Prague”, with the castle on a sheer rock;
• young men are lowered from the castle in baskets to take young vultures from their nests;
• diamonds and other precious stones are found in the hills;
• hundreds of laden ships can be seen in the port of Leith.

The other side, “Von Schottland”, lists the 39 shires of England. It also describes:

• the royal residence at Greenwich, York and Norwich;
• the universities of Oxford (“Ochsenfurt”) and Cambridge;
• the archbishoprics of Canterbury (“Candelburg”) and York with their bishoprics.

For Scotland it names Edinburgh, Leith, Berwick, St Andrews, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Montrose, and the Caledonian forest full of deer.

Cartographer:      Sebastian Munster​ (1488 – 1552)

Publisher:            Henricpetri press, Basel
Leaf size:               33,3 x 20,5 cm
Year:                       1578 – 1588
Technique:           Woodcut, with letterpress text

Condition:
Very good. Strong, dark impression with full margins. The paper is lightly toned, with faint marginal soiling and a few small spots. There is minor edge wear and some show-through of the text.

This is a genuine antique map published between 1578 – 1588 and not a modern copy or reprint

On your request I will provide a Certificate of Authenticity