An exceedingly rare and important map of the two hemispheres, and the single greatest achievement of the publisher Michele Tramezzino.

This large map consists of two hemispheres, each printed from separate copper plates. The hemispheres are upon a ‘homolographic’, or evenly drawn meridian, projection first described by Roger Bacon in the thirteenth century. The map is beautifully engraved by Guilio de’ Musi of Venice, and although both his and the Rome publisher Michele Tramezzino names are mentioned on the work, no cartographer is named.

Although the cartographers name remains a mystery, one can trace the influence of earlier works, and outline a few original features. North America and Asia are separated as in Mercator’s prototype world map of 1538, but details of the west coast and the Calafornian peninsula have been inserted. The serpentine east-west course of the Amazon is prominent, as is the exaggerated estuary of the River Plate: both are features that appeared on Sebastian Cabot’s map of 1544. However, unlike Cabot an extensive southern continent has been added. This is in fact not a complete polar land mass but an extenuated island strip reaching across three-quarters of of the circumference and leaving open sea to the south. In the east, the Moluccas are drawn in detail and a creditable attempt is made to set out the tributaries of the Indus and Ganges, and to mark the northwest and southeast line of the Himalayas. In Africa, the course of the River Niger is shown separate from that of the Nile. The large number of place names round the African and India coasts gives evidence of access to Portuguese sources as well.

Shirley calls it “a masterpiece of Renaissance cartography without any obvious source, or indeed, any imitators.” No later issues or states have been recorded. Shirley estimates that there are only 11 or 12 extant copies, plus a defective copy sold at Christie’s in 2006 (Sale 7350, Lot 4).