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06/10/2005: A Million Dollar Map...
Interesting Tid-Bit from the Chicago Tribune (when I finally get around to reading my newspapers - after my massive laundry attack – LOL) 1507 map in new territory: $1 million by Michael McDonough (Associated Press):”LONDON -- A nearly 500-year-old map from the first set to identify the New World as "America" and depict the Pacific Ocean was sold Wednesday for a record $1 million, an auction house said.
The printed map, one of only four known surviving examples produced by a group working under German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller, was bought by Charles Frodsham and Co. Ltd., which makes, collects and deals in items ranging from clocks to maps and books, Christie's auction house said.
Christie's said the $1 million price--$880,000 plus auctioneer's premium--was the highest amount ever paid for a single-sheet map at an auction. The auction house had said it expected the map to fetch $900,000 to $1.46 million
"We are absolutely delighted to have bought the map," said Richard Stenning, a director of Charles Frodsham.
Scholars created the set of maps--believed to be components of the earliest printed globe--based on explorers' accounts, and they drew the Pacific Ocean before Europeans had discovered it. The work depicts a land mass labeled "America" that corresponds to part of South America….”
It's only too bad the on-line article does not show the picture of the actual map - as does the hard copy of the Tribune.
Karen on 06.10.05 @ 05:22 AM CST
