Rare Old Mappa Mundi by Fra Mauro, 1450: The Best Geocentric Medieval World Map

The Fra Mauro Mappa Mundi is a remarkable work of art and cartography that offers a glimpse into the medieval understanding of the world. Created in 1450 by the Camaldolese monk and cartographer Fra Mauro, this mappa mundi, or world map, is considered one of the most important works in the history of cartography.

This map is a testament to Fra Mauro's skill and dedication. It took him years to complete and was an expensive undertaking. The map is filled with hundreds of detailed illustrations and more than 3000 descriptive texts, making it the most detailed and accurate representation of the world at the time. It is also a beautiful work of art, with its vibrant colors and intricate details.

One of the most striking features of the Fra Mauro Mappa Mundi is its unique projection. Unlike modern maps, which are typically drawn in a Mercator projection, the Fra Mauro map is drawn in a geocentric projection, meaning that it is centered on the Earth. This gives the map a distinctive appearance, with Africa at the top and Europe at the bottom. In terms of square footage, Africa and Asia dominate the image.

The Fra Mauro Mappa Mundi is also notable for its inclusion of novel information that was lost to early modern cartographers. For example, the map shows the Indian Ocean as "open," with a sea transit below southern Africa connecting it with the Atlantic. This was not rediscovered until Vasco da Gama's 1497-'99 sea voyage to India. The map also includes the first known Western depiction of Japan, labeled "Ixola de cimpagu."

Overall, the Fra Mauro Mappa Mundi is a fascinating and important work of art and cartography. It is a testament to Fra Mauro's skill and dedication, and it offers a unique perspective on the medieval understanding of the world.

Countries and regions shown on this map:

• Africa
• Asia
• Europe
• Japan
• Korea
• Madagascar
• Middle East
• India
• China

Interesting facts about the cartographer or mapmaker:

• Fra Mauro was a Camaldolese monk and cartographer.
• He was born in Venice in 1385.
• He died in 1459.
• He is best known for creating the Fra Mauro Mappa Mundi.
• The Fra Mauro Mappa Mundi is considered to be one of the most important works in the history of cartography.

Interesting historical or physical features shown on this map:

• The Indian Ocean is shown "open", with a sea transit below southern Africa connecting it with the Atlantic.
• The Indian Ocean likewise connects to the Pacific Ocean.
• Madagascar is possibly shown and labeled "DIAB".
• A large river is shown stretching far into the interior in southern Africa, possibly representing the Zambezi.
• The Tigris, Indus, Ganges, Yellow, and Yangtze Rivers are depicted.
• Japan is shown "Ixola de cimpagu".
• The Korean Peninsula is illustrated.

Cartographic style and projection:

• The Fra Mauro Mappa Mundi is a thematic map.
• It is a mappa mundi, which is a type of map that shows the entire world.
• The map is drawn in a geocentric projection, which means that it is centered on the Earth.
• The map is also drawn in a Ptolemaic projection, which means that it is based on the ideas of the ancient Greek astronomer and geographer Claudius Ptolemy.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 200in (500cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

Please note: the labels on this map are quite small at the smallest size. It's still legible, but definitely quite small. If you would like to read the map easily, please buy a larger size.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x16in (40x40cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.