The Leo Africanus Map of Africa:  [Untitled Map of Africa].   

Original woodcut map 
Map from 2 woodblocks ; each block 27.5 x 18.75 cm (across Equator).
Uncolored as issued
Map # AFS-001
$ Sold
 

This map of Africa, with south at the top, appeared in Historiale description de l'Afrique, an important and influential book on the history, geography, language, customs, and natural history of Africa by the Arab geographer, al-Hassan ibn-Mohammed al-Wezaz al-Fasi (c.1483-1552), or as he is better known, Leo Africanus. The book was published by Jean Temporal. Volume one of the book describes Africa, based on Leo Africanus, and the explorations of Cadamosto, De Sintra, and others. Volume two covers further Portuguese explorations along with a detailed description of Ethiopia, from Alvares.

Born in Granada, al-Hassan spent his early years traveling throughout North Africa and the Near East.  In 1518 he was captured by Christian corsairs and taken to Rome where, under the protection of Pope Leo X, he converted to Christianity and assumed the names of his benefactor, Johannes Leo de Medici. At the request of the Pope, he translated the Arabic manuscripts, maps, and sea charts, which he had been carrying with him at the time of his capture, into Italian in 1526 as Descrittione dell 'Africa.

Geographically, this map is a close copy of the 1554 Ramusio-Gastaldi map, prepared for Ramusio's book. In the Leo Africanus - Jean Temporal woodcut map, the names have been translated into French, and the ships and sea monsters are engraved in a new, slightly larger style.

Africanus' work, as it appeared in the Ramusio edition, was translated into French by Jean Temporal in 1556 for Temporal's Historiale description de l'Afrique. Africanus' writings on Africa had a considerable influence on all later writers on Africa. The book, a detailed account of Africa, its trade routes, geography, terrain, and people was an exceptionally important source of information on the continent and is generally considered the first book written by a person of primarily African descent.  This map appeared only in the one edition of Historiale description de l'Afrique of 1556.

Betz Map #5.  Norwich, Map #7.

Very Fine condition.