الوصف
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This fine woodcut map of Sumatra is the first separate map of an Indonesian island to be based on actual empirical data. It is based on the Ramusio's 'Raccolta di Navigationi et Viaggi'. In the book was an account of the voyage of the Parmentier Brothers, Frenchmen who ran the Portuguese blockade of the East Indies and landed on the west Sumatran coast. Both brothers died of fever and their crew did not acquire a great deal of wealth, which dissuaded the French from sending further expeditions. Prior to Ramusio's map, Sumatra had been confused with Sri Lanka and maps of the island contained conjectural geography based primarily on Marco Polo. The map is oriented with south at the top and the shape of the island and many of its features are quite accurately portrayed. However, there is no attempt to show any part of the Malay Peninsula or Java, although several of the surrounding small islands, such as Bancha (Banca) are shown. Charming scenes in the interior show vegetation, animals, and native figures at work and play, and there are numerous ships and creatures in the sea., First published in Giovani Battista Ramusio's Delle navigatione et viaggi., Relief shown pictorially., Oriented with north to the bottom., Page numbers on top margin of sheet: 433, 434., Main Heritage Compact General, HC.MAP.00231, Print Map, Item-ID: i11400493, BIB-ID: 1843418 |