woodcut, mm 265x380 (sheet mm 310x395), hand-painted. Taken from the rare Italian edition of Geographia Universalis, published in 1558. An attractive example of the rare 1558 italian edition of Sebastian Munster’s map of the world. Munster presents us with an expansive view the world with a number of interested cartographic features. Along the bottom of the map the dramatic unknown southern continent (Terra Australis Nondum Congnita) stretches to include the discovered lands of Tierra de Fuego and what appears to be a proto-Australia. South America bears the characteristic western budge in the vicinity of Chile that appeared on many early maps. The cartographer also maps a impressive and seemingly navigable northwest and northeast passages. The map is oval in form and surrounded by elaborate vine and leave engraving. The verso contains italian text describing the earth.