Von den Moscowytern. Mccxbij

Title

Von den Moscowytern. Mccxbij

Description

Illustration of an aurochs (using the term “Vros”, an archaic spelling for urus or aurochs) and a beehive in a tree, with the reverse side depicting a bear swarmed by bees. In this section, Sebastian Münster describes the rich environment—highlighting an immense abundance of wild honey and beeswax—alongside the wildlife and economy of the Grand Duchy of Moscow. Printed by Heinrich Petri.

ca. 1567

Artist

Münster Sebastian (1489-1552)

Sebastian Münster (1489–1552) was a leading Renaissance cosmographer. His most famous work, the Cosmographia (1544), was a comprehensive description of the world with 24 maps, based on research dating back to 1528. Continuously revised, the 1550 edition already included many new maps. It was the first scientific yet accessible world description published in German, illustrated with numerous woodcuts by artists such as Hans Holbein the Younger. Between 1544 and 1650, the Cosmographia appeared in 46 editions (27 in German) and was translated into several languages. Münster’s work combined the knowledge of scholars, artists, and travelers and remained influential long after his death.