THE LARGE COMMENTARY TO "CARTA MARINA"

MAGNUS, OLAUS.

Historia de Gentibus septentrionalibus, earumqve diversis statibus, conditionibus, moribus, ritibus, superstitionibus, disciplinis, excercitiis, regimine, victu, belleis, structuris, instrumentis, ac mineris metallicis, & rebus mirabilibus, necnon uniuersis penè animalibus in Septentrione degentibus, eorum cum natura. Cum Indice locupletissimo.

Romae, (Colophon: Apud Ioannem Mariam de Viottis Parmensem, in aedibus Birgitttae), 1555.

Folio. Bound to style in later (around 1950) full vellum with 4 raised bands to spine. Endpapers renewed. Old owners name on foot of titlepage. 42 unnumb. leaves + 815 pp. (p. 815 is the full page woodengraved printers device, verso blank). With 472 fine woodcuts in the text, the greatest part measuring 59x93 mm, a few half-page and some 1/3-page, among these the full-page map over Scandinavia (the smaller sized "Carta Marina"). Only few scattered brownspots, probably lightly washed by the rebinding. From ab. p. 500 the upper margins have some faint dampspots, which on ab. 25 leaves has left some small loss of paper, and on a few places the loss of a letter in the caption title, but everywhere professionally repaired with paperpulp where needed.

First edition of Magnus' great work, which constitutes the first larger geographical-ethnographical description of Scandinavia and one of the most important sources on the customs of the Northern peoples and daily life in the 16th century.
"Olaus Magnus (1490-1557) was the last Catholic archbishop of Sweden, which he left in 1524. This book is still one of the most importent sources on Northern customs and daily life of the time. The artist of the wood-cuts is unknown but most of them are made after drawings by the author. 13 editions were published in 16th century and several in the following, comprising translations into Dutch, French, German, Italian and lastly into Swedish. The history was intended to expand the information in the large map, "Carta marina", which Olaus Magnus published in venice in 1539, and of which only one copy was known, until a second was discovered in 1962 and acquired by the University Library of Upsala." (Swedish Books 1280-1967, no.18).
Collijn 2, pp. 221-7. - Sabin, 43830.

In reality, this famous work is a large commentary with notes to Olaus Magnus' famous map, the "Carta Marina", which he published in Venice in 1539, of which only two copies are known. The Carta Marina ("Map of the Sea" or "Sea Map"), is the earliest map of the Nordic countries that gives details and place names. Only two earlier maps of Scandinavia are known, those of Jacob Ziegler and Claudius Clavus. The "Carta Marina" is reproduced here in smaller size.

The woodcut illustrations and views are of the greatest importance to the cultural history of the Nordic countries, as they illustrate the religions, folklore, occupations, as well as the geographies, fauna etc. of the Scandinavian people. They have since been reproduced a number of times. The artist is not known, but they are probably carved after sketches by Olaus Magnus himself.

Swedish Books 1280-1967, No. 18. - Collijn "Sveriges Bibliografi intill År 1600", II: p. 221 ff. - For "Carta Marina" see Ginsberg "The History of the Nordic Map": 33.

Order-nr.: 47735