World's Oldest New World Globe Found on an Ostrich Egg

A collector has discovered the world's oldest globe to depict the New World, which may have originated from Leonardo da Vinci's shop in 1504.

1 minute read

August 25, 2013, 5:00 AM PDT

By Alek Miller

Wikipedia / Wikimedia

"An Austrian collector has found what may be the oldest globe, dated 1504, to depict the New World, engraved with immaculate detail on two conjoined halves of ostrich eggs..."

"[Globe collector Stefaan] Missinne speculates that the egg could have loose connections to the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci, based on the etching of an Indian Ocean ship similar to one by an artist well-acquainted with Leonardo.

The egg has no name engraved on it, so the maker remains unknown. But [editor of the Portolan, Jonathan] Sander thinks that someone from da Vinci’s time consolidated knowledge from travelers of the era and made the globe for an Italian noble family."

FULL STORY: Oldest globe to depict the New World may have been discovered

Monday, August 19, 2013 in The Washington Post

History / Preservation World Europe Cartography Maps globe Leonardo Da Vinci View More

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