This map of South America is derived from the very first map of the continent by Giacomo Gastaldi (c.1500-66) published in 1548. It is by Girolamo Ruscelli (c.1504-66) who enlarged the earlier work slightly and published it in Venice in 1561.

The cartography is ultimately derived from Gastaldi’s own separately published world map from 1546. It records the early explorations carried out by the Spanish and the Portuguese. The spelling of ‘R. de la plata’ is corrected from the earlier work which identified it with ‘placa’. It is named by Sebastian Cabot who explored the region in the 1520s acquired items of silver which inspired him to name it ‘Rio de la Plata’ (River of Silver).

Two more recent explorations are not recorded yet. In 1541 Pedro Gutierrez de Valdivia (1497-1553) had pushed south along the west coast and founded Santiago, Chile. Here the region remains devoid of nomenclature. Potosi was now an active mining town but is not yet displayed. The great cities of Peru which had already been conquered are included.

Despite Francisco de Orellana’s (1511-46) remarkable expedition from Quito, Peru all the way down the length of the River Amazon in 1541-42, Ruscelli remained with Gastaldi’s cartography. Here it is named ‘R. maragnon’, now applied to the principal source of the river. It is depicted flowing southwest to north east as first shown on his world map of 1546.

The map was engraved by Giulio Sanuto (fl.1540-88) and Livio Sanuto (c.1520-76). It is one of two that were engraved on the same plate, printed and then separated for the book. This is evidenced by the fact that the plate mark of the map runs off the top of the page. They were cut for the later 1574 edition. This example is from the 1564 Italian edition. It was last issued in 1599. Provenance: Juan and Peggy Rada Collection. Refer Karrow (1993) pp. 216-49 (particularly pp. 220-2); Shirley (1993) no. 85; Shirley (2004) T.Ptol 10d.