Rare Book News & Events UPDATE

Join the Rare Book and Special Collections Division on Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 3:00pm in the Rosenwald Room for Print in a Manuscript Realm: The Use of Hand-Stamps in the Decoration of Renaissance Nautical Charts. In this talk, map historian Chet Van Duzer will discuss his new research into an almost unknown episode in the production of manuscript nautical charts in Renaissance Italy: the use of hand-stamps in nautical charts by the prolific Italian cartographer Vesconte Maggiolo (fl. 1504-1549) and his son Jacopo (fl. 1551-1567). The Maggiolos used their stamps to set down faint outlines of sovereigns in Africa and Asia, cities, ships, and land animals such as elephants and unicorns. They then painted over these outlines, giving them the appearance of purely hand-painted illustrations, and making the use of the stamps difficult to detect. This “incursion” of print technology into what was supposed to be a manuscript medium was a significant methodological innovation in the production of nautical charts that was certainly intended to reduce costs by making it unnecessary to hire a specialized artist to paint the decorations.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Please request ADA accommodations five business days in advance at 7-6362 or ADA@loc.gov.

As always, talks are held in the Rosenwald Room (LJ 205) on the second floor of the Jefferson Building. If you have any questions, feel free contact us via Ask a Rare Book Librarian.