Hemispheres Antique Maps & Prints - Individual Map Details

Johannes Matalius Metellus

Cologne, 1597

A Rare Map. From Lambert Andreas' Amphitheatridion hoc est parvum amphitheatrum... : AFRICA

Original copperplate engraved map
Uncolored as issued
190 x 240 mm
Map # AAF-353
$ 4,000

This rare map shows all of Africa with part of Arabia. Aspects of the basic geography are derived from Gerard Mercator’s world map of 1569, particularly in the general shape of Africa and the island of Madagascar. Also following the Mercator map of Africa, Metellus does show European influence in the interior by including the Portuguese (Portogal) settlement up the unnamed Cuama River. Buro mina Zimbaos, to show the mines at Zimbabwe, is placed in the same area as Zimbaos on Mercator’s map between the Cuama and Spirito Santo rivers.

The map was prepared by Johannes Matalius Metellus, or Jean Matal as he was known in his native France, who was a well-esteemed cartographer in his day. Metellus (c1520-1597) spent much of his working life in Louvain, but moved to Cologne after about 1560.

This map first appeared in the rare Latin edition of 1597 of Amphitheatridion hoc est parvum amphitheatrum...., published by Lambert Andreas. The map appeared in Metellus' Africa ad Artis Geographicae Regulas, published by Sutorius in Ursel in 1600. It also appeared in Metellus’ atlas, the Speculum Orbis Terrae published in 1602. German text on the verso of the map describing Africa.

Little information on Metellus is available in English language reference material. The main references for Metellus are the works in German by Peter Meurer.

Reference: Betz # 38. Betz, Richard L., with Penelope W. Betz. The Mapping of Africa: A Cartobibliography of Printed Maps of the African Continent to 1700. 't Goy-Houten, The Netherlands: HES & De Graaf Publishers, 2007.

Very Fine Condition. This map was used for the image on page 179 of our book.

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Hemispheres Antique Maps & Prints
Dr. Richard L. & Penelope W. Betz
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