Asiae Nova Descriptio

Description

copper engraving. EXCEPTIONALLY RARE.

The “Birth Certificate of Luzon” – the first map to name and depict Luzon in recognisable shape – a stunning rarity of exceptional historical importance, here in the second state, with the cartouche imprint of “Giova[nni] Ba[t]tista Mazza fece” and “Venetiis Donati Rascicotti formis”, and insertion of “in Barrano per il Remondini” on neatline. We are only able to trace one institutional example of the first state: The National Library of Australia. [Venice, Donati Rascicotti formis. Giova[nni] Ba[t]tista Mazza fece., c1589]. [published in Venice by D. R., engraved by G.G. Mazza] –

Remondini was an Italian firm of print publishers based in Bassano del Grappa run by successive generations of the same family. Founder was Giovanni Antonio (1634-1711). Then followed his son Giuseppe (1672-1742), succeeded by his sons Giovanni Antonio (1700-69) and Giambattista (1713-73). Next was Giuseppe (1745-1811). The firm finally closed in 1860.

Ortelius flourished just a bit too early to have mapped the ‘true’ island of Luzon. That omission was subsequently corrected by the Italian geographer Giovanni B. Mazza on a separately published adaptation of Ortelius’ map of the Asian continent… Mazza adds ‘Luconia’ (Luzon) in a roughly recognizable shape” (Suárez). Many Philippine islands are named including S. Joan. Also the proverbial reference to ‘Rhabarbarum’ is present in the Tangut area, and Isla Fermosa [Taiwan] is mentioned.