The Silver Map of the World is a contemporary medallion commemorating Drake’s great voyage (1577–80).
This concise Geographical Essay examines the map’s design, its two-sided representation of the world, and the route Drake followed on a voyage that marked a historic English circumnavigation.
The book frames the medallion’s cartography, discusses its likely origin, and places the map in the context of early modern navigation. It also includes critical remarks on the Zeno narrative and the related chart of 1558, exploring how earlier ideas influenced later maps and how misperceptions crept into cartography of the North Atlantic. A photographic facsimile of the map is presented, along with notes and appended studies.
- A close look at the silver medallion’s two-sided world map and the Drake route marked on it
- Discussion of how the map’s imagery fits with late-16th-century navigation and exploration
- Critical analysis of the Zeno narrative and the accompanying chart, with insights into cartographic history
- Photographic facsimiles and appendices detailing related early charts and references
Ideal for readers interested in maritime history, cartography, and the era of Drake’s voyages.