Portolan chart of the Central and Western Mediterranean, as well as the Atlantic Coast of the Iberian Peninsula and the North of Africa, composed by Salvat de Pilestrina (Majorca, 1533).

This is a fine example of the renaissance era work by the famous Majorcan School of Cartography. It shows the Mare Nostrum and is decorated with maritime motifs, illuminated vignettes of the main port cities that are idealised and represented by their emblematic buildings, and heraldic vexillology.

This is the only original copy of a portolan chart by this enigmatic author that has been conserved. This master of nautical charts copied the cartographic models from his most immediate surroundings, tracing the contours of the maritime area of Mediterranean influence that was controlled by Christian ships at the height of Ottoman dominion.

The end result is a beautiful, yet fascinating cabinet card manuscript that recalls a time when science, art, culture and religion all came together.