Terrestrial and celestial globes; their history and ... - 24grammata.com

Terrestrial and Celestial Globes.
Of the globes constructed by Schoner, none is more important
than that bearing date 1520 (Fig. 44).*'^ The wooden
ball on which the map has been drawn and colored by hand
has a diameter of about 87 cm. and rests upon a wooden
base. Near the south pole is the date 1 520 in large gilt let-
ters and an inscription stating that it was made at the ex-
pense of Johannes Seyler by Jo. Schoner.®" It is apparent
that the same sources were used for the drafting of the map
on this globe that had been used in the case of his earlier
globes, but the geographical infonnation on this last globe
is much more detailed. The New World appears in five
distinct parts, the first of which is called "Terra Corte-
realis," the second "Terra de Cuba," the third "Insulae
Canibalorum sine Antiglia," the fourth "Terra nova, Amer-
ica vel Brasilia sive Papagelli Terra," and the fifth "Brasilia
inferior." The globe is richly decorated in colors, and
its numerous descriptive legends, most of them in Latin,
give such geographical information as may be found in
'°
most of the important maps of this early period.
In 1523 Schoner issued a little tract of four pages which
he called 'De nuper sub Castiliae ac Portugaliae Regibus
Serenissimis repertis Insulis ac Regionibus, Joannis Schoner
Charolipolitani epistola et Globus Geographicus, seriem
navigationum annotantibus. Clarissimo atque disertissimo
viro Dno Rymero de Streytpergk, ecclesiae Babenbergensis
Canonico dictae. Timiripae, Anno Incamat. Dni. 1523.'
'An epistle of John Schoner of Carlstadt concerning the
islands and regions recently discovered by the Most Serene
Kings of Castile and of Portugal, and a geographical globe
for the use of marking the course of those navigations.
Dedicated to the most distinguished and eloquent Reymer
von Streytperg, canon of the Church of Bamberg. Timiripae
(Kirch-ehrenbach). In the year of the Lord's incarnation
1523.'^^ Though Schoner alone gives us such information
as we possess concerning this globe, it has been the subject
of much controversy, and if recovered it doubtless would
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