Cosmographia

First published in 1544, Sebastian Münster’s Cosmographia was one of the most influential and widely circulated geographical works of the 16th century. Combining classical knowledge with Renaissance discoveries, it offered an ambitious description of the known world, richly illustrated with woodcut maps, city views, portraits, and ethnographic scenes. Münster’s Cosmographia went through over 40 editions in multiple languages, reflecting its immense popularity and impact. It was the first German-language work to present the world in such comprehensive detail, and its maps—including some of the earliest separate maps of the Americas—helped shape European understanding of geography during the Age of Discovery.