CPS Resource CentreArticle Number 10: Identification of Unknown Map on Vatican sc1008
New Submission July 2008, Research, text and scans by Miklos Pinther
Our tenth Marginalia article submitted by Society President Emeritus Miklos Pinther sheds some light on a previously unknown map. –web admin
In 2005 David Wolfersberger originally asked me about the world map depicted on the Vatican City’s special souvenir sheet (scott 1008) which was issued for the China 1996 Philatelic Show. Both Dan Nelson and I searched the sources we knew, and I asked some other map historians, but unfortunately, no information was available about the cartographer or the publisher. The results of the searching showed that this “unknown map” was also of specific interest of those who collect antique maps on stamps. A number of suggestions were offered, but since several editions of very similar designs are known, the precise source of this particular map remained an enigma.
Vatican City, sc 1008, March 15, 1996
What we do know about this fine souvenir sheet, shown below, comes from an article about this issue that appeared in the May 1996 journal of Vatican Notes. The article states that the souvenir sheet, issued on March 15, 1996, measures 138 x 100 mm, and features a world map in two hemispheres, with the right hemisphere depicting Marco Polo’s return route to Venice. The map was copied from a volume preserved in the Pontifical Lateran Library. Along the top of the sheet are the coat of arms of Vatican City, the logo of the International Philatelic Exhibition “CHINA ‘96”, and an inscription in Italian and Chinese. At the lower center is a perforated 2,000 Lire stamp which features Marco Polo, taken from the first printed edition of Il Millione, the account of the travels of Marco Polo. The issue size was 300,000 souvenir sheets with printing carried out by Helio Courvoisier S.A. of Switzerland on white chalky paper in color rotogravure.
Now, thanks to the kind intercession of Dr. Roberto Rossetti, a former legal adviser to the United Nations and personal aquaintance, who has sent the following information which has been kindly provided by Dr. Laura Ciolli, DeputyLibrarian of Pontifical Lateran University Library in Rome.
The map in question is entitled:
MAPPA MONDO O VERO CARTA GENERALE DEL GLOBO TERESTRE
Rapresentato in due Planisferi E nuouamente coretta e in piu parte Aumentata secondo le Relatione piu recente
Prepared by N. Sanson (Nicolas Sanson of Abbeville,1600-1667), engraved by Gio. Lhuilier (Joannes Lhuilier), and published in 1684 by Gio. Iacomo de Rossi (Giovanni Giacomo de Rossi) printing workshop of Rome. This map is the first of a set of maps in a bound edition of 47 x 34 cm size. Other maps in order are of Europe, Asia, Africa, Italy and the Lazio region, as well as of other subjects and of various dimensions. The Library’s volume bears a mark “SA”, meaning that it originally belonged to the convent of Saint Bonifacio and Alessio on Aventine Hill.
Mr. Pinther and the CartoPhilatelic Society are grateful to Dr. Rossetti and Dr. Ciolli for providing this information.
References:
Thomas I. Crimando, “New Issues” in Vatican Notes, volume 44, no. 6, May 1996, pp. 4-5., The Vatican Philatelic Society. http://www.vaticanphilately.org
Additional Notes:
Both Dan Nelson and Miklos searched extensively on the Internet for the map depicted in the souvenir sheet but it does not seem to be online. If anyone knows of an online version of the true map shown in the souvenir sheet, please inform Mr. Pinther.
An interesting resource for a number of old maps is the EU’s digmap project, but I am not sure of the status of the project, beyond the search interface and the digmap wiki site.
[2022-06: this site is down; no visible project status is listed here. the project may have been moved to the european digital library (europeana portal) and their geography/maps collection. -web admin]
More information about philatelic issues from the Vatican can be found at the Vatican Philatelic Office.
Unfortunately, I could not find an image of Nicolas Sanson. Perhaps someone can help?
–web admin
