Map of Brazil from 1554
This fascinating pictorial map is one of the first regional maps of Brazil available. Illustrated with north to the right, the map is filled with vignettes depicting native life rather than focusing on geographical information.
Indians are shown with bows and arrows, axes, llamas and hammocks, for which Brazilians are well known.
The surrounding ocean is filled with French and Portuguese ships and sea monsters. Along the coast, Europeans are shown interacting with the natives. The limited geographical information is rather inaccurate.
The Amazon River (here called the Maranon F.) and the Paraná River originate from lakes near an erupting volcano.
Mountains and false rivers fill the western part of Brazil, labelled Terra non Descobrirta (undiscovered land). This woodcut map is from the first block published in 1554, which was destroyed by a fire at Thomaso Guinti’s printing works in 1557.
A second block was cut in 1565, with the notable difference that Descoperta is written at the top centre instead of Discoperta.
The second block was used again in 1606, and can be distinguished from the previous print by the appearance of woodworm damage on the block.
Many of the blocks in the 1554 edition of Ramusio’s Delle Navigationi Et Viaggi were made by the great Venetian cartographer Giacomo Gastaldi. “Brazil”, Ramusio, Giovanni Battista
