Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) - Cosmographia Universalis...

This original sheet is a precious Renaissance page taken from the Latin edition of 1550 of Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia Universalis, printed in Basel by the publisher Heinrich Petri, and part of Liber IIII in the section entitled De Sclavonia. The text and the accompanying woodcuts offer a fascinating naturalistic and ethnographic account of the vast and wild lands of Muscovy and the peoples of northern Scythia. The narrative on the front opens by examining the exceptional abundance of wild beehives and the perilous gathering of honey in trees, introducing a famous section dedicated to the nature and habits of bears (Natura ursi), fond of honeycombs and described in their interactions with local hunters; the topic is visually marked by a distinctive woodcut that portrays a profile of a bear on an full page. Turning the page, the text describes the customs of the most remote pagan peoples of the region who, remaining in unbelief, do not know the use of money, dress in lynx or wolf skins and live by hunting and ocean fishing. This ethnographic description is beautifully illustrated by a second woodcut divided into two parts: on the left it shows the veneration and contemplation of the sun and the crescent moon, while on the right it depicts the pagan cult directed at sacred trees and forest animals, regarded as protective deities by the local tribes before the Christianization campaigns. The chronicle concludes by tracing the region's hydrography, mentioning the floods of the great Dvina River (Duidna flu.) and the important trade emporium of Vym (Viftinga emporium), rich in precious sable and marten furs. Size 30 x 20 cm Will be shipped by courier

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