Mappamondo o vero Carta Generale del globo terrestre - G. De Rossi 1674

📜 Description
Antique double-hemisphere world map engraved and published by Giovanni Giacomo De Rossi in Rome in 1674, based on the geographical work of Giovanni Battista Cantelli da Vignola, one of the most distinguished Italian cartographers of the seventeenth century. Entitled *Mappa Mondo o vero Carta Generale del Globo Terrestre rappresentato in due Planisferi*, the map presents a comprehensive representation of the known world according to the most up-to-date geographical knowledge of its time and constitutes an important testimony to Italian scientific cartography during the Baroque period. The composition is organized into two large hemispheres depicting continents, oceans, island groups, the Equator, the Tropics, and the principal geographical coordinates. Particularly noteworthy is the depiction of the southern regions, still identified as *Terra Australe Incognita*, reflecting the state of geographical exploration during the second half of the seventeenth century. The long engraved title in the upper section and the publisher’s imprint in the lower margin document the map’s inclusion in the celebrated *Mercurio Geografico*, one of the most important cartographic publications produced in seventeenth-century Rome. Executed in etching on paper and later mounted on laid paper, this antique map combines scientific purpose, geographical updating, and documentary value, making it a significant example of the representation of the world in the early modern period.

📚 Historical and Artistic Note
Giovanni Battista Cantelli da Vignola (1643–1695) was the leading Italian cartographer of the second half of the seventeenth century and worked closely with Giovanni Giacomo De Rossi, the foremost Roman publisher of the period. The maps published in the *Mercurio Geografico* represent one of the highest achievements of Italian Baroque cartography, distinguished by their updated geographical information and high editorial quality. This world map reflects the central role of Roman publishing houses in disseminating the new geographical knowledge derived from explorations and travel accounts of the seventeenth century.

🧾 Technical Details
Type: Antique double-hemisphere world map
Author: Giovanni Battista Cantelli da Vignola
Publisher / Printer: Giovanni Giacomo De Rossi
Place: Rome
Date: 1674
Material: Paper mounted on laid paper
Technique: Etching
Title / Subject: *Mappa Mondo o vero Carta Generale del Globo Terrestre rappresentato in due Planisferi*
Edition: From *Mercurio Geografico*
Dimensions: Sheet 50.5 × 70 cm; engraved area 36.5 × 55.5 cm

🔍 Condition Report
Sheet in good overall condition. Trimmed and mounted on laid paper. The engraved surface remains clear and well impressed. Minor age-related wear consistent with the period. Blank verso. Overall preservation is good.