SALAMANCA, Antonio (1478-1562) - [La prima mappa della baia di Napoli]. Il Vero Disegnio In Sui Propio Luogho Ritratto Del In Felice Paese Di Posuolo Quale. [Rome: 1538].   An excellent copy with strong imprint and good margins of the first state of the first map depicting the bay of Naples; the first real map of the city was published only 22 years later.   The map is also renowned as it is the first cartographic representation of a major contemporary volcanic event; the main purpose of the work was precisely to represent the eruption of Monte Nuovo - Campi Flegrei which occurred shortly before publication on 29 September 1538. The map thus manages to capture a fleeting moment describing the historic eruption that lasted more than a week with also a sudden explosion on October 6 that killed 24 visitors. The ash flow affected regions as far as Puglia and Calabria, with large fragments deposited across Naples.   The map depicts the Gulf of Naples and the surrounding area up to Capri and Ischia; it then extends north of Pompeii to Cape Miseno west of the city. For many of the places illustrated this is the first printed representation, among these: a perspective view of Naples enclosed within its walls; the Posillipo Masserie; Vesuvius, depicted just outside the city, with no indication that it is an active volcano.   The paternity of the map is debated among scholars who do not all agree with Marcel Destombes who assigns it to Salamanca; Giovanni Bertoni instead suggests that it should be attributed to Tommaso Barlacchi. At the bottom left is the signature of the sculptor G.A. attributed to the "Master of the trabocchetto" or of the "Tribolo" who worked in Rome for Antonio Salamanca. Thieme-Becker identifies him as Giovanni Agucchi. The details of the engraving are exceptional and perfectly represent the Lafreri school. There are only four names of the winds which are engraved, while the writing of the other words does not occur through engraving, but rather using punches.   Bifolco and Ronca (pl. 128) mentions two states: this one, without the date of publication, and a second with the signature of "Petri de Nobilibus ormis" which appeared much later than the first in around 1585. Very rare map on the market: the last copy to be auctioned dates back to more than twenty years ago and currently only one copy is available on the market. Engraved map (sheet 357 x 498mm; engraving 300 x 535mm). (Minimal browning to edges and a few tears that do not touch the engraving)

Estimate € 3,000 - 5,000