Ever Thought of a Map as an Encyclopedia?

Early world maps on clay tablets were known to exist drawn to reflect the depiction of the age, as shown in the Babylonian world maps .. even then they showed seven islands arranged around so as to form a seven-pointed star, with several cities, but the whole surrounded by a “bitter river” (Oceanus).

The ancient civilisations all produced pictures that today we would describe as maps, especially once they have been reconstructed, .. sometimes very complicated affairs reflecting the world as they knew it, and life as they predicted, their philosophy and mythology, but all the while incorporating the new ideas of their era.

Imago Mundi Babylonian map, the oldest known world map, 6th century BCE Babylonia

The Romans left us a plan of Rome and the first road map of the world (Itinerarium Scriptum) (literally written itinerary), which would make sense as their maps seem to have met the practical requirements of political administration and of military undertakings. The 13th C copy (an almost true reproduction of the original) is today known as the Tabula Peutingeriana is an itinerarium showing the cursus publicus – the public roads from Iberia in the West to India in the East - and is conserved in Vienna.

Part of Tabula Peutingeriana (Southern Italy centered) – an example of an Itinerarium Scriptum

Mappa Mundi is a general term used to describe medieval European maps of the world. Approximately 1,100 mappae mundi have survived. Ranging in size and complexity, of which some 900 are to be found illustrating manuscripts, with the remainder existing as stand-alone documents. The term ‘mappa mundi’ derives from the Medieval Latin words for ‘cloth or chart’ and of the world’.

A book in folio, in one sheet, is a book, the sheets of which have been folded once only, so that each sheet makes two leaves; hence a book of large size could be produced: several such folded conjugate pair of leaves were inserted inside another to produce the sections or gatherings, which were then sewn together to form the final book, a famous folio of that era is the Gutenberg Bible (1455). The Latin for leaf is ‘folio’

Developing a brand can be about your passion, which is then expressed in the title you choose and that definitely occurred in this publishing niche – The Folio Society. It was conceived after the war to produce ‘a poor man’s fine edition’ – a well-designed, printed and bound book to which the common man could aspire.

Since then it has produced a number of ‘Folio Fine Editions’, subsequently introducing a series of deluxe, limited edition publications at substantially higher prices, often facsimiles published in conjunction with The British Library. Their latest idea is a new letterpress limited-edition of Shakespeare’s plays .. and this where the Hereford Mappa Mundi comes in.

This map is an example of a Mappa Mundi in "La Fleur des Histoires". 1459-1463

I quote from an article “Bound for Posterity” in The Telegraph in 2007, when the Folio Society was celebrating its 60th year: “Each book – the carefully selected typeface, acid-free paper, the stitching of signatures, the stunning design of the case and then the printing itself – is produced to a standard and not to a price.

And yet the value remains quite extraordinary. No other commercial publisher could ever dream of producing books approaching such a level of quality unless the selling price were to be in hundreds of pounds. ‘I always say that if there is money, it is to be put into even better production,’ says Lord Gavron (the present owner of the organisation), ‘and not set aside as profit.’”

This is where the Folio Society and the Hereford Mappa Mundi, “that early map of the world” come together – the year 1,300 meeting today’s 2010 – where digital technology has been used to peel away the years' of wear and tear and discolouration to create a restored reproduction, as near to the most authentic version possible.

The trustees of Hereford Cathedral, where the original Mappa Mundi resides, collaborated with the British Library and the Folio Society in producing only 1,000 facsimile copies of this wonderful masterpiece.

The Folio Society's numbered copy will be displayed in all its glory beside the original in Hereford Cathedral for future generations to see – what an amazing exhibition to visit: to be able to see on the one hand the original that is seven hundred years old and the reproducion reflecting its original gilding, the blue pigment for the rivers, the green of the oceans, the red for the Red Sea!, as well as the clarity of the map as originally seen by pilgrims, nobles, philosophers and clergymen all those years ago.

The original Hereford Mappa Mundi - to be found in Hereford Cathedral: ca 1300.

So, at last, I come to the Mappa Mundi itself – one of the largest and most elaborate maps in Europe. The map, worked on vellum, embodies all The Middle Ages’ fundamental beliefs about the shape and nature of the world, which is drawn centred on Jerusalem; according to the old convention east is to the top. It is a bestiary, a psalter, a Bible, a history of the world and collection of travellers’ tales rolled into one – displayed for all to see on a carved oak triptych.

It is a way of looking into the mind of the medieval age as it brings together so much – a compendium, an encyclopaedia of its day – all the glories, known and unknown, painstakingly put down on a single sheet of calf skin (five feet x four feet) – a cornucopia of mixed unfathomable messages. The Victorians could not get to grips with it – it did not fit their delineated world!

However with a great deal of dedication and translation of the ancient texts, language and symbols have been unfurled for us to better understand this incredibly comprehensive saga of life to that point in time. A way of understanding the world from the centre out – the pin prick in Jerusalem used to mark out circles, sectors of the world, that the gifted craftsmen and artists could fill:

..... an artist to outline, another to define in ink and add colour, other artists to draw rivers, mountain ranges and the decorative foliage border. Finally, a professional limner added display lettering in gold in a beautiful Lombardic script. (Limner – Middle English .. Limnen – to illuminate a manuscript, with its roots in Latin – luminare – to illuminate, adorn).

Mappa Mundi reproduction praised on the BBC

Isn't the difference quite extraoardinary .. even on these small pictures?

This will be on my list of places to visit – to be able to see both Mappae Mundi in situ – to be able to look at the hundreds of inscriptions, the towns, the painted scenes and symbolic decorations .. to wonder at the rhinoceros, the unicorn, the skill of the Medieval peoples in devising this wonderful work of art.

How I would love to own one ... as the Folio Society offer comes with two Commentary Volumes, bound in buckram, blocked in gold foil with Merida endpapers and ribbon markers and illustrated throughout – what a wonderful present – anyone? Only £745 – it counts as four volumes .. well worth it for this very curious map of the world - don't you think!?

PS: They did mark Europe as Africa, and Africa as Europe .. but I guess that's 'easy to do' if you're just a scribe copying: and have no knowledge of the world.

Here's a link to the video podcast showing some more of the detail - it's only 4 minutes & really does give you a better flavour than perhaps I've expressed here .. if you're interested have a quick break?!

Dear Mr Postman – Things are definitely easier now that my mother can hear again and is taking a bit more interest and is cheerful. We’ve watched the tennis final at Queen’s Club at the weekend and today we saw the Queen driven down the Ascot Mile at the start of the Royal Ascot Horse Races being held this week. I have to say though .. I wish it would warm up!

Hilary Melton-Butcher
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