Portolan atlas

Accession number: 
MS M.506
Title: 
Portolan atlas
Created: 
France, ca. 1546
Binding: 
French half-red morocco, ca. 1850.
Credit: 
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1911.
Description: 
12 leaves : vellum, ill. ; 330 x 260 mm
Provenance: 
Belonged to J.F.A. Peyré, magistrate of Villefrance near Lyon in 1866 (his motto, semper aliquid, on fol. 7v; curatorial folder contains correspondence in his hand); Leo S. Olschki; purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) from Leo S. Olschki in 1912; J.P. Morgan (1867-1943).
Notes: 

Ms. atlas; written and illuminated in France, ca. 1546.
Cartographer: once attributed to Pierre Desceliers, but various scholars have suggested that the prototype was taken from Nicolas Desliens.
Decoration: 6 illuminated maps decorated with windroses, ships, mountains, cities, forests, etc.

Script: 
semi-cursive script
Language: 
French
Century: 
Classification: