Inghilterra secondo tolemeo

Early and rare map of the British Isles from the "Isolario" published by Bordone in Venice 1528. "Modern" map of England and Wales on verso.

In 1528, Benedetto Bordone published his work "Libro di Benedetto Bordone nel qual si ragiona de tutte l'isole del Mondo" also known as the “Isolario”. Within the work is one of the earliest available maps of Great Britain as well as possibly the earliest sea chart.

There are two maps, on the recto and verso of the same page. One side represents the whole of the British Isles based on Ptolemy while the other shows the “modern” rendition of the island, showing England and Wales. The map illustrated on the website is the Ptolemaic illustration, “inghilterra secondo tolemeo”. It is characterised by the sharp turn of Scotland to the east, a rudimentary attempt to show the southwest of England and an early depiction of the eastern half of Ireland.

An image of the verso of the map, showing the “modern” England and Wales is also available.

Dating the individual maps without context is impossible. The work was first issued in 1528 with further editions in 1534, 1543 and 1565; the maps in all the editions were printed from the same woodblock with no discernible differences. [GB2112]