Add MS 63841 A

A. Fragment showing the area between India and the Red Sea (top), the Canary Islands (bottom), Mediterranean coastline of Africa (left), 'Ethiopia inferior deserta', fanciful Atlantic islands and descriptions of the Marvels of the East (right); circa 1360-1375. Not to scale. Mostly Latin. The bottom right of the map when oriented with east at the top is a palimpsest containing manorial information of circa 1484 in the same hand as that of the rental (Add. 63841 C). The fragment can be dated from comparison with surviving portolan charts and from its Anglicana Cursiva Documentaria script which lacks any Secretary elements. The fragment represents about a quarter of the original. It shows a close resemblance in content and lay-out to the Psalter world map of 1275 or earlier (Add. 28681, f. 9), to the late thirteenth-cent. Duchy of Cornwall fragment and, to a lesser extent, to the Ebstorf world map of circa 1235-1245 and the Hereford World Map of circa 1290. There is, however, considerable textual variation and some variation in content. The toponymy of the Mediterranean coastline is largely taken from a portolan source. The map is adorned, in an apparently unsystematic manner, with ink drawings that are visible under ultra-violet light.

Faded red and brown inks on vellum. 600 (max.) x 230mm. (max.).

Maps and Plans: World map: circa 1360-1375: Mostly Lat: Fragm.

Africa: Fragment of world map showing Africa: circa 1360-1375: Mostly Lat.

Art. Miscellaneous: Sketches on world map: circa 1360-1375: Fragm.