PORTUGUESE CHARTS LEADING TO THE 1519 ATLASINTRODUCTION
From HOC/3/1/chapter 38 comes the following sections;
“There are no firm conclusions, then, on the origin of Portuguese cartography; except that it drew on a varied and heterogenous cultural stock. Nor does the absence of Portuguese maps until the final quarter of the 15th century allow us to date the beginnings of cartography in Portugal with much precision. However, it is from the first half of the 15th century during the lifetime of Prince Henry that we find earliest documents mention of maps made in Portugal”
“We read that Prince Henry commissioned new nautical charts and curiously stipulated that such charts should contain indications of the depth of the waters and sand banks”. “a detail that seems unlikely at such an early time in any event, the important point is that we have various mentions of Portuguese nautical charts before the middle of the 15th century.”
I find that a rather peculiar comment to make as surely that is the main intent of charts to assist ships navigate safely?
PORTUGUESE CARTOGRAPHY
However, despite this documentary evidence there are only in existence three complete nautical charts and some fragments from the last quarter of the 15th century. They are c1471, anonymous 95 x 75 cm chart held in the Biblioteca Estense e Universitaria Modena, ref C.G.5c.. The second chart is by Pedro Reinel and is held in the Archives Departementales de la Gironde, Bordeaux, and is 95 x 75cms, referenced as 2Fi 1582 bis (II Z 1582 bis). The third chart is by Jorge de Aguiar and held in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven USA.
The third chart which is a late comer to the charts found and thus not discussed in PMC or any journals until after 1968, but it bears a distinct resemblance to the Bordeaux chart by Pedro Reinel even to the extra West African Coastline being inserted inside the African map body. The fact that it is signed and dated it clearly indicates that the Pedro Reinel chart is pre 1492.
There is then a real change in the Portuguese charts following the voyages of Christoforo Columbo from 1497 onwards. However, although the west coast of Africa featured on the Pedro Reinel chart and the Jorge de Aguiar 1492 chart was explored it did not contain the knowledge of West Africa or the exploration and latitudes which suddenly appear on a c1500 Spanish Chart drawn by Jean de la Cosa. My text ChJLC/1 fully explains this and clearly shows that this “First” chart showing the Caribbean Sea and Islands is in fact two charts cobbled together. The chart is held in the Naval Museum Madrid. The western portion or new chart is by Jean de la Cosa, but the eastern section of the chart showing Africa is in fact a PORTUGUESE CHART which had no doubt been obtained whilst he was in the south of Sapin and decided to use it to produce a “planisphere”. The western portion indicates explorations up to c1488 and is thus indicative of the Portuguese output at the end of the 15th century.
Thus it is a 15th century Portuguese Chart of unknown provenance showing the latest form of Africa and no doubt one of many smuggled charts between the two countries.
Then c1500 another Portuguese Chart, anonymous, held in the Munich Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Codici Iconography 138/40, Folio 82 is found and discussed in PMC, volume 1, pp23/24 and in volume 5, pp3-4 the Bordeaux chart is discussed as follows;
“PMC Volume 1; Heinrich Winter in 1947 made a brief reference to it; it bears all the distinguishing marks of the Reinel School, but its lower quarter is cut off, only the scale of miles on the right hand edge being spared. Such examples of mutilation of the author-legend are not rare, and in all likelihood the scissors have removed the name of Pedro Reinel. Otherwise as far as we know it has never been mentioned.”
“The scale of latitudes, extending from 18° to 61° , shows the usual lack of precision and is only valid for the Atlantic coasts. The latitudes of Gibraltar and Cape Ortegal ( 360 and 440 respectively) are correct, but the Lizard with 52° is two degrees too high and Cape Blanco with 190 is as much too low.”
The distance from Cape St Vincent to the Gulf of Issus actually 45° geographical is slightly over-length, but indicates the fact that the Cosine ratio at 36° has been used for its length.
But, with this chart we are looking at a standard Portolan Chart, not a chart of exploration and thus one indicating only the Mediterranean Sea knowledge of its age.
PMC, Volume 5; this chart is actually signed by Pedro Reinel and is described as the first chart to indicate Africa below the Equator and the west coast of Africa as far as the “Rio de Padron” in the Congo, using the Stone Cross as its marker. There is a problem with the dating of the chart, as previously mentioned, given that Malaga still has the Moslem Flag and Valencia the flag of Castille, but then the Castle de Sao Jorge de Mina is shown and the Congo river is after 1482.
Thus there is a dichotomy here in that Folio 82 is dated c1500 and the Bordeaux chart probably the late 1480’s, but the Bordeaux chart is far in advance. Given its size 711 x 948mm and obvious desire to include the Azores and the Cape Verde Islands, the west coast of Africa as an insert clearly indicates that all of the Portuguese discoveries to the date, where-ever, are included. It is a rather fine chart which could be used by navigators to explore the Portuguese possessions in the Atlantic and Africa.
Thus the charts should be listed as , Biblioteca Estense, Bordeaux, Beinecke and then part of the JLC chart as extant Portuguese charts before 1500. Note that the Reinel and Homem Families and their charts are fully discussed in text ChRH/1.
THE CANTINO PLANISPHERE
From c1502, the infamous “Cantino Planisphere” is in fact another cobbled together chart. The chart has six sections, the eastern four sections are an original Portuguese “Cartas Padroes” which were regularly updated as the west coast of Africa and indeed Africa as a whole was gradually explored by Portuguese mariners.
However, the two western sections of the chart, although well drawn are totally un-coordinated rectangles to the four in the east. Those have perfect joints between sheets but in the west they are literally “cut and torn” in irregular forms to ensure they finally join to make a coherent chart. This is fully discussed in the text ChCAN/1, and it debunks many other texts regarding its production and timing.
PLANISPHERES
From 1502 we find the Portuguese “planisphere” being produced in large numbers and with sizes to reflect the 360 degrees of the world. They all become “Square Charts”, that is each degree of longitude is equal to the latitude degree and indicates the influence of the official charts on a score or more Portuguese planispheres in existence. Also immediately after 1502 we find “families” of cartographers producing charts and atlases of a high standard. In c1504 a chart by Pedro Reinel has not only a graduated meridian but also an extra oblique latitudinal scale by the coast of Newfoundland as seen on the “BSB cod.Icon. 132 chart”
The oblique scale is dealt with in text ChJR/1 and clearly shows it represents the fact that the northerly extension of the coast could not be accommodated on the map sheet set North and hence it is set obliquely such that it could be drawn to fully indicate the coast correctly and thus drawn correctly if necessary. Cartographers were finding solutions to previously ignored items.
The Reinel Family has charts drawn in 1504 and 1510, but then in c1519 a quite extraordinary Atlas is produced. The “Miller Atlas” by Lopo Homem and the Reinels held in the BnF Paris as Ge DD 683(res). However it is not all it appears to be!
THE MILLER ATLAS, BRIEF DESCRIPTION
The atlas NOW commences with a circular map of the world as Folio 1R and has on the reverse the attribution text by Lopo Homem and the coat of arms of the widowed Queen Catherine de Medici. It is followed by Folio2R, the north of western Europe, with Folio 2V being the Azores. Folio 3R covers East Africa to the Golden Chersonesus with the tip of Taprobane. Folio 3V is a split folio with on the left, the southern extremity of the Golden Chersonesus, Taprobane and the 1378 Islands. The right hand half is “Insula Dni Laurentij”, Madagascar. Folio 4R is the northern section of the Magnus Golfus Chinarrum, and folio 4V the southeast section of that gulf. Folio 5R is the basic Portuguese area of Brazil located to the west of Africa with the Equator shown correctly. Folio 6R is a large folded chart of the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to the Caribbean Sea with the newly found Islands by C Columbus in 1497. Folio 6V is a chart of the Mediterranean Sea Basin from 180 to 590N which is set on the reverse of Folio 6R and thus similarly folded and of a similar size.
It will be noted that the above description does not include a mention of charts illustrating the whole of Africa from west to east. Thus it is assumed that these folios which are missing leads to the peculiar circumstances surrounding the discovery of the Atlas, now explained.
THE ATLAS AND ITS DISCOVERY
In 1855 the Parisian bookseller Jaques Charavay had advertised for sale an atlas which was quickly purchased on the 8th June by Viscount de Santerem an avid collector and writer on the subject of cartography. Thus he purchased it shortly before his death on 17th January 1856. The Atlas was purchased just prior to that by Benigne-Emmanuel Clement Miller and his widow sold it to the BnF Paris in 1897.
That atlas comprised folios 2r, 2v, 3r, 3v, 4r, 4v, 5r, 6r and 6v all as previously described. But where did the folio’s 1R /1V appear from.
In the middle of the 19th century, probably 1860/69, Alfred Morrison travelled to Italy. The son of a textile business man He had inherited a large fortune which enabled him to become a collector of some note. He was High Sheriff of Wiltshire UK in 1857 and married in 1860. His collection was a large portfolio of books and ephemera including a World Map purchased on his visit to Italy.
Alfred Morrison had two sons and the second was Major James Archibold Morrison DSO of Fonthill Manor and Basildon Park Reading. He inherited a large part of the collection which was auctioned at Sotheby’s on 1st May 1930. However, the World Map was not included.
Thus on the 5th May 1930, another Sotheby auction saw the World Map as a special item. It was purchase by E P Goldschmidt for the princely sum of £180 in a 50/50 purchase with Lathrop C harper of New York, USA.
The description is as follows;
“The Property of Major J B Morison, DSO, Basildon Park Reading.
91) Map of the World. Manuscript on vellum, very carefully and neatly drawn, showing Europe, Asia (including China), Africa and America ( Mundus Novus, Brasil), coloured in green, blue and red, the map is enclosed within a circular border, and at the corners are emblems of the four winds, and right and left the Sun and Moon: the whole enclosed within a broad gilt rectangular border: on the verso is the following inscription, “hec est universi orbis ad hanc usque diem cogniti tabula quam ego, Lupus homo Cosmographus in clarissima Ulisipone civitate Ano domini nostril Millessimo quingentessimo decimo nono Jussu. The Emanuelis inciliti Lusitanie Regie collatis plutibus aliis tam vetustorum quam recentiorum tabulus magna industria et dilligenti labore depinxi”, beneath this are the arms of a princess of France, torn at the fold. Lisbon 1519
It then features in the Geographical Journal for August 1930, volume 76, as a short description of a previously unrecorded Portuguese map and is discussed in a text written by Edward Heawood MA, Librarian of the RGS in the March 1931, volume 77, in which he adds “By kind permission of its present owner we are now able to give a photograph to half scale which may help those interested to form their own judgement on the subject of Sig. Caraci’s statement that it is a modern forgery”.
Giuseppe Caraci was criticised for using the term “princess of France”, when it was obviously the Widows coat of arms for Queen Catherine de Medici of France. Nobody had obviously read the Sotheby catalogue words! And, the owner is obviously E P Goldschmidt.
There were then several texts in the Geographical Journal arguing the pro’s and con’s of the World Chart and the curious additions on the verso, A complete list of texts which discussed this chart is included as an appendix. In the 1931 text Edward Heawood quotes the text of An expert to whom we have referred Sig. Caraci’s article writes as follows”. This expert is un-named but in 1931 there were few academics qualified to write such a paper. It is therefore in all probability Frederick Puller Sprent, the Map Librarian at the British Museum, who had previously written about Contarini’s World map and Drake’s circumnavigation. Unfortunately the RGS has no knowledge of who provided the Photo and who the expert was.
THE ATLAS FOLIO BY FOLIO.
FOLIO 1V
FOLIO 1V; this is taken out of normal order as the subject has created much discussion and theories concerning what is shown there-on. The date of the Atlas comes from this Folio with the attribution of the cartographer. However, as is discussed later, the work may well be from the 1520’s not 1519.
Catherine de Medici was born on the 13th April 1519 and the coat of arms drawn on the verso is definitely for two people co-joined. She married the man who was to become HENRY II of France. He died in a jousting accident on the 10th July 1559 by a lance splinter. From that day She was Dowager Queen of France as a widow. Hence if She took the original coat of arms as drawn it would necessarily require the Cordeliere indicating widow status. However, on the death of her husband the King She took the BROKEN LANCE as her Emblem inscribed with the words “LACRYMAE HINC, HINC DOLOR”, (from this come my tears and my pain) and wore black mourning in memory of HENRY II, from there-after.
Thus, why would Queen Catherine have used an Atlas dated 1519 drawn in Portugal, when as a Widow the Coat of Arms used previously was perhaps there-in and allowed to stand and endorsed with the Widows Cordeliere? What happened to all the other documents?
But, Professor Luis Filipe F R Thomaz, Historian and Orientalist has written that his idea of the situation is that the Atlas was conceived and executed in such a luxuriant manner since it was produced to be offered to Pope Leo X, uncle of Catherine de Medici and that the Pope gave it to his niece on the occasion of her Baptism at the end of 1519.
ChPOR/1/D01
Firstly, Catherine de Medici was born on the 13th April 1519 and for this atlas to be dated 1519 at least the Folio 1R would be in preparation in 1518. Hence, how would anybody know then the situation for a coat of arms, and thus they must be a much later addition to the atlas. Thus it has been argued also that Andre Homem to impress Catherine when he was vying for a post as cartographer to the court of France, used this “OLD” atlas to impress her because of its luxurious presentation.
It has also been suggested that it was a geopolitical document to counter Spanish claims and stop explorations taking place. Ferdinand Magellan had proposed to King Manuel 1st of Portugal an expedition travelling westwards to find that route to the Spice Islands. This was turned down and Magellan went to King Charles 1st of Spain who agreed and the expedition left in August 1519, probably just as the World Map was completed. King Manuel 1st of Portugal even sent a Portuguese Squadron to try to stop the expedition, but to no avail. Therefore, before it was finished the atlas was doomed to failure as a fleet had sailed.
There are other theories for this atlas to have been drawn and they are covered in the texts noted.
Finally we come to 1937 and a note by Marcel Destombes in his text where he states, “the chart has just arrived in Paris”. He had purchased it from the Goldschmidt/Harper Booksellers in c1936. At this point Marcel Destombes realises that this chart fits the so called “Miller Atlas” quite precisely in that the central holes for binding and even the tear matches the existing Folios. Thus it was obviously part of the original atlas and hence the date attributed to it is taken from this folio.
Marcel Destombes, then in 1939 sponsors a conference in Paris attended by “Dix persons qualifies dans l’examen des cartes anciennes”. This ended with agreement, though not by all, that the complete atlas was by Lopo Homem and not partly by the Reinels as set down in the Geographical journal volume91, No5.
This has been completely overturned and it is now agreed that the only folio by Lopo Homem is the first, the World Map, and the residue of the work probably from 1520/1525 is by the Reinels.
One other strange item to discuss is that the attribution text, which is set within a golden frame with two side scrolls on which is the date 1519 which does not agree to the hand which wrote the attribution, supposedly Lopo Homem. Also there is adequate space in the golden frame for five more lines of text. What is missing? Is it the attribution for the work of the Reinels which was to follow?
Search as I may I have not been able to locate where Alfred Morrison purchased the World Map c 1860 and thus I cannot add as hoped where the missing folios are. Neither can I find the purchase/sale data for the Atlas to Viscount de Santerem which may have led to them also.
FOLIO 1R THE CIRCULAR WORLD MAP
The map of the world encompassed in a circular frame 328mm diameter has four wind cherubs with the Sun and Moon set east/west, and, there are four cartouche set NSEW. On the overlay I have indicated putative latitudes and longitudes illustrating that it is taken from a Portolan Chart. Africa is drawn wildly overlarge longitudinally and actually foreshortened latitudinally. The longitudes for Europe are also far larger than the latitudinal degrees.
ChPOR/1/D02
It is nothing more than an updated Ptolemaic planisphere which instead of being drawn on his first projection principles is a flat map of the then known world. In 1407 ,Jacopo d’Angeli di Scarparia translated the Greek text of “Hyphegesis Geographike” or “guide to Geography” now commonly known as The Geography. The maps were first copied by Francesco di Lapacino and Domenico di Leonardo Boninsegni in 1415, and then c1477 they were printed in Italy. However, it is the works of Dominus Nicolaus Germanus, a cosmographer and Illuminator working in Italy in the second half of the 15th century who produced many “Atlases” of Claudius Ptolemy’s work that we really know of them.
The important map for our purposes is that of the “world” drawn on Ptolemy’s first projection, which shows the “Southern Land” joined to Africa and the Far East, forming the inland sea. But, in 1497 the Columbus voyage changed that perception and with the Portuguese exploration of Africa and India to the Spice Islands that idea was completely changed. Hence cartographers required to grapple with the basic information which was arriving yearly regarding the “New World”, and another ”World Map” was concocted with the latest form of Europe, Africa and the Far East with the partial knowledge of the America’s. Hence America north and south took the place of Africa as the western limit and the new form of the “South Land “ appeared.
Illustrated are two versions of the Dominus Nicolaus Germanus maps using the first projection of Ptolemy, they being from 1467 and 1472. (D03)Next is a composite map of the Al-Idrisi world c1150CE with the seven climates and the “South Land” sweeping past India and the Far East. (D04).
ChPOR/1/D03
ChPOR/1/D04&5
The text written about Magellan by Pigafetta suggests that he had knowledge of a passage through the South American land mass and Martin Behaim’s “Erdapfel” has been suggested as the reason, considering that he was resident in the Portuguese Azores at the time. However, as the special projection of that globe shows, (D05)America did not exist and thus it is a misnomer.
The idea of the “South Land” encompassing the Oceans was raised in the earliest texts and maps thousands of years ago when cosmographers knew of the large Northern Continent, comprising Europe, Africa and Asia and determined that there had to be an equally large “Southern Continent” for the stability of the Earth. (D06).
ChPOR/1/D06
Thus there is much ado about this chart which frankly has not been answered yet.
FOLIO 2R
ChPOR/1/D07
This is a chart of the British Isles and Scandinavia expressed in a rather bizarre form. The British Isles are drawn as per the norm for the age, but all else is drawn from wild imagination, especially with “Norvega” being and Island, east/west aligned. It is set south of the landmass of “Scania” and “Norbega” with sea inlets that do not exist. The chart is full of name tags which are basically Roman Towns of Europe, with a good dose of wild guesses again. It is Ptolemaic in origin and would appear to be taken from the 1467 version as illustrated.
There are two scale bars, one obviously the Latitudinal Degrees from 46N to 72N, with each degree being divided into 4 units. This in itself is peculiar as the Portuguese Degree is normally 17 ½ leagues but also 18 leagues of 3 Milhas /Miles, thus 24 Estados, which would give a subdivision of 6 Estados. Thus the Estados is one eighth of a mile and there are 54 per degree. Note, 8 stades per mile is the Roman Measurement.
However, Joao de Lisboa wrote in his text that a degree was 16 2/3rds leagues, and Marcel Destombes in his Paper , “Lopo Homem’s Atlas of 1519” wrote as follows;
“The Lopo Homem atlas of 1519 is the only geographical work which employs the degree of 16 2/3rds Leagues ; all other maps known at present, dated or undated are made with the degrees varying from 17 ½ to 18 ¾ Leagues.”
Given the two scale bars, the one in the west on an A3 copy measures 100mm and is 24 x 5 units. Transfer the 100mm to the latitudinal scale and it shows 10 ½ degrees, i.e. 42 units. Thus each degree is 90 divided by 10 ½ = 8.571428 units. If one degree is 8 4/7th SBU’s, that is 18 Leagues, one SBU = 2 leagues (2.1 calculated). Thus the western scale bar is 180 leagues in 100mm and there is no 16 2/3rds Leagues in the chart.
ChPOR/1/D08
There is a curiosity in the Baltic Sea along the coast of Germany and Poland.(ChPOR/1/D08) There is a scrolled text, “SABVLOS9 PONTT9”, Sabulosum Pontum, which is most probably “Sand Bridges” referring to the spits, dunes and bars which form bridges across open water. The “Zatoka Gdanska”, is a large Bay which has a Spit protecting Gdynia and leaving then access to Kaliningrad/Konigsberg of the Hanseatic League. That League was very active in the Baltic Sea and therefore these northern waters were well known to sailors of the 13th and 14th centuries. Thus the World Map knows of this but choses to ignore the geography to the north.
FOLIO 2V
This folio would be expected to follow to the west of Folio 2R, however then scale bars do not align as shown and even though the Atlas pages are within 99% of each other, the climates are very different in width/latitude.
The chart shows an island named “Isla Viridis”, Green or Verdant, but it is drawn similar to the mysterious islands placed in the Atlantic, with one named “Antillia”. The “Viridis” is also applied to Madeira and the Emerald Isle of Hibernia. Is this a falsification to obscure Fact?
However, the Azores, named here-on “ISTULE ACIPITRV” and showing seven of the nine islands, with the other two hidden in the Blue/Gold Bordure, which can easily be clearly seen on the chart, are set geographically between 37N and 39N, then 25W to 29W with the two isles, Corvo and Flores at 31W. 39 ½ N. I cannot find an answer to the name given to the Azores by the Reinels.
The climate parallels given in Geographike Hyphegesis by Claudius Ptolemy, section 1:23 commence at parallel 1, being 12 hours and 15 minutes ( zero being 12 hours) at a latitude of 4° 15’N. Thus 37/39N spreads from parallel 10, 36N through Rhodes to Parallel 11, 38° 35’ to parallel 12 at 40° 55’. However , of the seven major climates 4th, 33° 20’ and 36° 00’ (9 & 10), then the 5th, 38° 35’ and 40° 55’, thus the climate bands seem to have been re-calculated to the geographical world, whereby the 4th is 33° 36’ and 36° 24’ and the fifth 39° 00’ and 42° 17’.
But if we study the figures given for the 5th and 6th parallels there are differences.
ChPOR/1/D09
ChPOR/1/D10
The 5th climate line has “11pcom 48m & 180”. Thus at the 11th parallel the longitude is 48 miles, but actually the 11th parallel is either 38° 35’ or 39° 00’ and Ptolemaic would be the Cosine 38° 35’x 62.5 miles = 38.583x 62.5= 48.856 miles. In our terms the Cosine to obtain 48 miles would be 39.835° but, given the mathematics of that age an acceptable number is used.
The 6th climate line has “13pcom45m & 185 5/8”. Thus at the 13th parallel it is 45.6476 miles and in our terms the cosine is for 43.945° to obtain 45 miles.
At the end of those sets of figures for longitude are 180.00 and 185 5/8ths. For the 11th and 13th parallels the hours are 12+2 ¾ and 12 +3 ¼ hours. That is 165 minutes and 195 minutes. Thus the 180.00 is for the 12th parallel at 400 15’or 410 17’ and the 185 5/8ths parallel at 195 minutes. Thus the 180.00 is for the 12th parallel at 40° 15’ or 41° 17’ and the 185 5/8ths is probably the 13th parallel at 195 minutes.
Also on Folio 2V are two small marks with 360 written to them. This must apply to the Zero Longitude, which in term so the age was 18° is probably the 13th west. The island of Hierro in the Canary group. Using the degrees indicated on Folio 2R for the 7th climate, 47° 15’ to 50° 30’ and assuming a square chart which is the norm in the 16th century for large charts, it places the Zero Longitude correctly at 18° west.
The problem of solving the charts inner workings are exacerbated by the fact that the scale bar has no reference to its actuality and the degrees on Folio 2R are subdivided by four.
THE FOLLOWING CHARTS
ChPOR/1/D11
Studying the charts which follow led immediately to the conclusion that they were probably inter-linked, could be joined to form a larger chart. Thus folios 3R, 3V, 4R and 4V require to be detailed as one, using 3V (right) to link to 3R (left), thus then coast of East Africa aligns to give the position of Madagascar Island. Folio 3V (left) links to 3R (right) then folio 4R links to 3V (left) and folio 4V links to folio 4R which is north of it.
As shown, by the simple expedient of printing each, cutting and cropping tops to the outer frame line, they join in a haphazard manner as if no attempt has been made to ensure continuity of the coast lines and chart features. Only the East African and western China coasts align if you ignore the major island.
The latitudes are thus, Folio 3R, 6S to 40N; Folio 3V 5N to 40S; Folio 4R Equator to 46N and Folio 4V 23N to 23S. The overall is thus 46N to 40S from the northern extremity of the Magnus Golfus Chinarrum to south of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.
Because of the mis-match it is necessary to investigate each chart separately for accuracy.
FOLIO 3R
ChPOR/1/D12
Illustrating from East Africa to the Golden Chersonesus and Taprobane the latitudes are well executed, but longitudinally the whole is extended by Arabia and is then shrunk to accommodate India, the Sinus Gangeticus and Taprobane. The number of Islands drawn are more than exaggerated even if the Islas Nicobar ( +Andaman) are clearly named. It is basically a chart with the west being geographical and the east Ptolemaic.
There is on this chart a strange text as follows; “Hic lapis gignitur Herculeus obque hoc navigia que clavos ferreos habent detinentur harum in-colae anthropophagi sunt” which translates as “From this stone Hercules is born and because of this stone the boats that have iron nails are detained ; The inhabitants of these are cannibals.”
FOLIO 3V
ChPOR/1/D13
The western portion is a part which joins to 3R via Taprobane, with the southern portion of the Golden Chersonesus linking. The fact that a text states there are 1378 Islands , however is alarming and surely led to many explorers coming to investigate the possibility of Spices etc. But, also surprising is the fact that the Islas Nicobar become “GAMISPOLESVJ” ?
Text; “ Ante et post Taprobane , dit la legende, multitudo est insularum quae dicunt ese numero 1378 quarum tamen nomina traduntur haec sint”
The Eastern Portion is merely the Island of Madagascar, (Insula Dni Laurentij) and sufficient coastline of East Africa to afford continuity from folio 3R.
There is also a text concerning Madagascar.
FOLIO 4R
The Magnus Golfus Chinarrum or the Gulf of Tongking, with the large island “Parico Insula” taking the place of Hainan. That is if the latitudes are taken as correct? There is one text.
However it is more likely the Gulf OF Siam to the East of the Golden Chersonesus which on folio 3V is a narrow inlet leading from Insule Mocalor and is studded with small islands. Curiously there is a much smaller inlet to the south and if all three were to be correct then the Magnus Sinus or Magnus Golfus Chinarrum could be considered the YELLOW SEA peppered with Claudius Ptolemy rivers each side. Is this a case of early cartographers infilling as best possible with little or no actual knowledge, just rumour?
ChPOR/1/D14
FOLIO 4V
With its northern extent set at 4N, the Magnus Gulfus Chinarrum has a southern extent on folio 4V at the Tropic of Capricorn, 23 ½ S and it emulates Folio 1R, the circular World Map, but drawn at a much higher latitude. Four major inletsoccur on its western coastline which do not appear on Folio4R. Even the island of “Batuca Issula” appears on folio’s 1R, 4R and 4V.
ChPOR/1/D15
FOLIO 5R, BRASIL
ChPOR/1/D16
Commencing with the Equatorial Line passing through the northern section of the Amazon Estuary at 50W, the eastern capes are at 35W/5N, followed by Rio De Janeiro, 43W/23S and the River Plate at 55W/35S. Latitudinally correct but longitudinally awry and by utilizing the nearest part of the African Coast at 7 ½ W, thus to the coast of Brasil at 35W it is possible to plot the correct positions for the Amazon Delta and the River Plate Estuary in Uruguay.
The unfortunate mis-labelling of the Tropic probably stems from the fact that the toponyms on the coast are “upside down” to the chart itself and a lapse of concentration made north south.
The chart has a vertical scale bar of 18 degrees = 94mm thus each degree is 5.2mm or 1 1/3rd SBU’s. If the degree is 18 leagues of 3 miles each. i.e. 54 miles total, the scale bar is 18 x 54 miles = 972 miles.
The next Folios are the large folded charts.
FOLIO 6R; THE ATLANTIC OCEAN.
The scope of the large folded chart, four sections and a top and bottom fold stretches from 64N to 4S via the latitude scale and geographically 3E to c90W longitudinally. The scale bar has 24 divisions which correspond to 18 degrees latitude and is thus the same 1 1/3rd SBU’s seen previously. Given that the figure 18 re-appears several times it is open to opine that the Reinel’s are stating that the measurement is 18 leagues per degree.
ChPOR/1/D17
The longitude at 17W is correct for Africa and to the eastern periphery of the Caribbean Islands at 60W. However , latitudinally the major islands in that sea have been drawn far to the north and thus Florida has been truncated in latitude.
The most surprising feature of this chart is however the “Megalithic Structure” drawn south of Cuba with the words “Todo Alev” within. Geographically within the western Caribbean Sea there are several atolls which are capable of explaining this anomalous feature on a chart, but translating the two words has proven impossible, even though “Todo” is Portuguese. But, being drawn as a “frying Pan” structure defies explanation.
Curiously the chart has no “Wind Diagram” and hence the multitude of criss-cross lines which comes with such a structure is missing.
There are only toponyms in “Terrae Corte Regalis”, then the West Indies and South America. Why “Labrador/Newfoundland” which is basically from 55W to 60W is not drawn in a more realistic position, that is by swapping the Landmass with the empty cartouche position, is also strange. Then true extent of the Atlantic Ocean would then have been exposed and Folio 5R capable of adjoining it to form a composite chart such as in the Far East. Again we see the lack of co-ordination within the Atlas construction.
ChPOR/1/D18&19
ChPOR/1/D20
ChPOR/1/D21
A chart which although 610 x 1180mm and folded as chart 6R because it is drawn on the reverse of it, is very much a standard Portolan Chart. The main headings have minor errors in that “19 PARALLELUS” should read “12” and the southern text “HORARUM 13 z r” corresponds to 13 ¾ hours.
Again it is a square chart, but it has three latitudinal scales and two horizontal longitudinal scales. The main latitudinal scale is from 59 ½ N to 28N and from that the anti-clockwise slew of the chart can be clearly shown. If all three latitudinal scales are assessed, the western or main scale has degrees drawn at c31mm; the “Dotted Scale” which runs from Jutland to Libya has dots at 3 1/3rd mm and the third scale to the west of Corsica/Sardinia has its dots at 10mm centres. Thus basically it is open to opine that they are actually 30mm; 10mm and 3 1/3rd mm and all inter link as 3 x 3 1/3 =10 and 3 x 10 =30 or 9 x 3 1/3mm. That immediately infers the basic measurement of 90 Miliaria per degree, standard for a Portolan Chart.
However, the longitudinal scales which are meant to be shown as correct for Cosine Reduction are both slightly and majorly awry. In the north, the longitudinal scale bar through the south of Britian either 50N or 51N and a Cosine measure with latitude 30mm is either 19.284 or 18.88mm, drawn at 19mm and confirms the 90 Miliaria latitude.
The southern longitude scale bar is however a quandary as the degrees are 29mm. Thus 29/30 = 0.96667 Cosine or 14.835 degrees north. It is drawn at 33 ½ N and should be 25mm per degree. That is a very surprising drafting error given the other accuracies.
Included are three extra diagrams with the scale bars for latitude and longitude annotated accordingly as they may not be apparent on the scans.
ChPOR/1/D22
ChPOR/1/D23&24
THE DESIGN OF THE ATLAS PAGES.
Practically every writer detailing the Atlas has commented upon the luxurious nature of the charts presentation. Drawn by the Reinels , but with the miniatures drawn by Antonio de Hollandia. In his text ,”L’Atlas Miller un probleme resolu. L’art dans la cartographie Portugaise” , Alfredo Pinheiro Marques explores the Atlas Miniatures and produces a comparative list of many »Books » illustrated similarly in the age. He shows that they have matching animals and other features and thus finally acclaims Antonio de Hollandia as a Master Miniaturist.
However, what cannot be determines is why it is so beautifully O.T.T., or for whom?
It is known that King Manuel 1st of Portugal requested the Atlas and the varied reasons are given in the texts written , with no consensus. Bur, the King died in 1520, probably long before the Atlas was completed, if the Reinel dates are correct, and as no information has been found that suggests a reason in the Royal Papers its luxurious production can only have been either for King Manuel or as a gift for an equal.
WAS THE ATLAS EVER A PART OF THE FRENCH ROYAL LIBRARY.?
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) has a series of catalogues, “Catalogue des imprimes et des manuscrits de la Bibliothèque du roi” which if studied list both as hand written and printed lists many thousands of documents. Tome 1; Inventiare de la Bibliothèque de la Royne ( Catherine de Medici) pp 438-482, items 3652-4436 as well as every other catalogue has been diligently examined item by item and no trace of an Atlas as described was found. There are several Atlases and Charts, but no “Miller Atlas”.
Therefore the idea that it never left Portugal and may have been used in 1559 to impress Dowager Queen Catherine, not knowing She had changed her “Coat of Arms” is a possible answer, but does not account for the fact that it was sold in a bookshop and the front chart was purchased in Italy.
CONCLUSION
The Atlas was intended for somebody of very high status and no doubt to be given as soon after 1519 as possible. The death of King Manuel, the exploits of Magellan meant that in 1523/24 with the Pacific Ocean open to all comers actually meant it was out of date already.
Thus the Atlas was “Sold Off” and as with so many dissected and individual Folios sold by booksellers to obtain the highest profits. Hence Folio 1R ended up in Italy, the Folios for Africa are missing and the residual atlas, now out of date, although quite luxurious was a novelty, but a stepping stone to the past , hence it was purchased by an experienced cartographic collector.
Beautifull as it is its greatest asset is the work of Antonio de Hollandia and is probably the only reason for its survival, the shear luxuriant production.
APPENDIX 1; Dowager Queen Catherine de Medici Coat of Arms
When King Henry II died in the jousting accident on the 10th July 1559 we are informed from that day that She wore mourning black and changed her coat of arms to the “Broken Lance” as the two diagrams illustrate.
ChPOR/1/D25
Thus after July 1559 it vis probable that any new Books or Manuscripts entering Her Library or the Bibliothèque du Roi, could be adorned with the new coat of arms. Only a thorough check on such documents will prove this fact if any researchers do not accept the idea that the “Widows Cordeliere” was a much later addition to the atlas page.
APPENDIX 2; LIST OF TEXTS DISCUSSING THE ATLAS.
Geographical Journal; volume 76, No2, August 1930, pp159-160; “An unpublished map of Lopo Homem, 1519; Edward Heawood M A
Rivista Geografica Italiana volume 37 part 3, 1930, Giuseppe Caraci, Lopo Homem.1519.
Geographical Journal volume 77 No3 March 1931 pp 250-255; “Lopo Homems map of 1519, by Edward Heawood MA Libarian of the RGS London.
Bibliofila, (Leo S Olschki publication)1932; Ipotesi, fantasie e dati di fatto intorno ai cartographi Homem, by Giuseppe Caraci.
Geographical Journal volume 90 No5, November 1937; “Lopo Homems Atlas of 1519” by Marcel Destombes
Geographical Journal Volume 91, No3 March 1938, pp 263-266; “Lopo Homem and the Miler Atlas of 1519” Giuseppe Caraci and Marcel Destombes.
Geographical Journal volume 91 No5, May 1938, pp 450-453; “The Lopo Homem Map once more” by F A Kammerer.
Geographical Journal volume 94 No6, December 1939, pp 485-492; “Le Mappemonde Lopo Homem et L’Atlas Miller” Report of meeting in Paris regarding the Atlas by F A Kammerer.
Revue de la Bibliothèque nationale de France, No4 1994, pp 52-57 ; L’|Atlas Miller : une Probleme resolu. L’Art dans la Cartographie Portugoise by Alfredo Pinheiro Marques, translated from the Portuguese to French.
Moleiro Editor S.A. « Atlas Miller”. Well produced book of the atlas folios in full colour with a commentary.
The Sotheby Catalogue information was kindly provided by Bernard Quaritch Ltd Booksellers, London, (5th May 1930).
The purchase record in the stock book of E P Goldschmidt Ltd was kindly provided by “The Grolier Club, New York, USA”.
The BnF, Paris kindly provided the enlargements of the Folio 1V to show the Insignia of Marcel Destombes and the pencil notes.
The Bibliothèque du Roi catalogues are available on line at https://archivesetmanuscrits.bnf.fr/
Portugaliae Monumenta Cartographia, Volume 1, pages 55-61; Lopo Homem-Reinels, Atlas of 1519.