BOTERO (Giovanni).
Le Relationi Universali di Giovanni Botero, divise in quattro parti. ... Con le figure in rame: & una Aggiunta della descrittione del mare. ...
Includes maps of the four continents, based on Ortelius
Giovanni Botero (1533-1617) was an Italian Jesuit, who became secretary to the Duke of Savoy. An important writer and noted economist, he is best known for his Relationi Universali, a geographical description of the world, which incorporates a political and religious commentary. The book was first published in 1591, and quickly spawned a large number of editions, a number of which were illustrated with maps.
This edition, published by Angelieri in 1600, includes maps of the four continents based on the respective maps in Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, first published in Antwerp in 1570; the map of the Americas has the characteristic bulge in the west coast of South America made familiar by Ortelius.
The maps, three of which are signed by Girolamo Porro, first appeared in Giovannia d’Anania’s L’Universale Fabrica de Universi, 1582; Burden, referring to the map of America, described it as “… a typically attractive Italian copperplate engraving …”.
Reference: Burden 54, describing the Americas map.
