Beinecke MS 561
Venice, c. 1560-1564
Atlas of the islands in the Eastern Mediterranean (Isolario), etc., in Italian

f. 1v	 A four-masted Venetian gallion.

f. 2r	Decorative page with tempietto, four stars and two crossed staffs in a Renaissance 
cartouche.

ff. 3v-32r	Maps of the islands and a few maps of the mainland. Noteworthy the following: 
[f. 3v:] Morea (Peloponnesus). In the sea a caravel; [ff. 8v-9r:] Central Greece. In the sea a 
caravel with caption "Vado al volo per formenti"; [f. 20v:] Chalogero (??), with a hoisting 
apparatus for lifting boats; [ff. 29v-30r:] Insula di Candia (Crete). In the sea a caravel with the 
caption "Vado a Venecia con moschato"; [ff. 30v-31r:] Insula de Cipro (Cyprus). In the sea a 
caravel with the caption "Vado in Soria"; [ff. 31v-32r:] Mar di Venecia cioe Seno Andriaticho 
(Adriatic sea-coast). In the sea a caravel with the caption "Vado in Levante".

f. 32v	Forma di la carta marina. Circular map showing Europe, the Near East, Africa, the 
Americas and the Antarctic.

f. 33r	Astronomer with quadrant observing the sky, in a decorative frame.

ff. 33v-34r	Universalis mundi [figura]. Oval map of the world.

f. 34v	Diagramma over figura della sphera et cerchi di qella.

f. 35r	Qesta roda edi sapere tuta la strada et il chamino ce fa la luna et il far e il tondo et quanto 
tenpo la sta in cogniuno segno ... Circular diagram of the course of the moon through the Zodiac 
during one lunation, with figures and volvelle.

f. 35v	Figura della sphera substantiale. The earth in the centre of the circles of the heavens, the 
planets and the elements.

f. 36r	Eclipse della luna.

f. 36v	Echlipse de la tera con il sol.

f. 37r	Da misurar ogni latitudine [by means of a gnomon].

f. 37v	Ruota per conoser le ore de note.

ff. 38r-	39r	Astronomical calculations by means of the hands.

ff. 39v-42r	Astronomical tables.

f. 42v	Roda di saper l'aureo numero ogni anno in perpetuo. Circular diagram with volvelle.

f. 43r	Dimensions of the earth.

f. 43v	Various diagrams.

f. 44r	Map with geographical definitions.

f. 44v	Figura del regimento de l'alteca di la Tramontana.

f. 45r	Qante lege o milgia valgia un grado in qualonge quarta di vento navicando. Compass-
card.

f. 45v	Figura dil polo Antarticho.

f. 46r	Tavola breve del signor de le ore. Astrological table.

ff. 46v-47r	Diagram.

ff. 47v-48r	Costantinopoli. View of the city and its environment.

ff. 48v-49v	Diagrams for chronological calculations by means of the hand for the years 1560-
1564, unfinished.

f. 50r	Circular diagram with the Easter dates for the years 1564-1596.

ff. 50v-53v	Various designs for geographical and geometrical calculations and measurements. 
On f. 52v a globe map of the world. On f. 53v demonstration of the use of the plumb.

ff. 55r-	59v	Methods of astronomical, geographical and geometrical calculations and 
measurements, recipes for the making of paper, etc.

f. 60r-v	Magical recipes, dated 1st March 1565.

f. 64v		Note on the birth of the author's son Felice, 14 January 1560, and astronomical 
observations made at that time.

f. 65v		Note dated 1579 and drawing of a one-masted caravel.


Paper, ff. 63, 310 x 210 mm. Watermark?? Many blank pages.

The entire manuscript is in one hand, with the exception of the recipes on f. 60r-v and the note on 
f. 65v. The script is Gothico-Humanistic Cursive, which in the maps alternates with Capitalis. 
Headings in Capitalis inscribed on scrolls or tablets.

Maps, borders and decorations in colours. Clumsily drawn human and animal figures.

Original limp vellum binding. On the spine is written "G***ctrica MSS". On the rear cover are a 
pen-drawing, upside-down, of the same decorative device as on f. 2r, and a sketch of city gates.

Made by an unknown Venetian mathematician, astronomer and cartographer, this manuscript is 
also highly interesting for the excellent drawings of contemporary Mediterranean sailing-ships. 
Collection of Henry C. Taylor. Bequest of Henry C. Taylor, 1971.

Bibliography: Taylor Collection, no. 6.

Albert Derolez

Updated 30.11.2007