The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-09-29
An Interesting Old Nan.
From the Montreal Gazette.

On the wall OF Mr.. s. C.. Stevenson't
office, in this city, is hunga fac similt
of what is known as the second
Borgian map, which is of great his
torical value. The original, by Diego
Ribero, is in the museum of the pro.
paganda in Rome. This relic of the
early ages of American discovery lie q
contemporary copy Of the first
Borgian map, so celebrated in his
tory on account of the line traced
across it by Pope Alexander vi, 1t
must have been commenced about
1494 and finished 1929, possibly for
Charles V. in order to settle some
difficulties with the Portuguese in
relation to the frequently-vexed ques-
ton of possession of the newly-dis-
covered lands. The late Mr.. Shake
speare Wood, great authority on
all questions of this nature, was of
the opinion that it was commenced
under Julius II (deila rovere), whose
tiara and arms, the oak, or rovere,
are displayed at the bottom of the
map.
This would fix the date of the draw
ing at 1903. But there are evidences
gifts being of even earlier date, for
in all that concerns Europe, Africa
and Asia, this map is identical with
the first, which was certainly drawn
in 1894, 1t bears an inscription in
Spanish which commences along the
upper margin of the parchment, and
runs as follows: Universal map, in
which is contained all that has
been hitherto discovered of
the world. Made by Diego Ribero,
geographer to his Majesty in Seville
1922" and continues along thelower
margin as follows: (Which is divided
into two parts according to the agree
ment made by their Catholic Males
ties of Spain and King John of Portu-
gal in Fontesilla, A. D. 1894" At
mthe foot of the map are richly-illu-
mated coats of arms. The continents
and islands are covered with quaint
representations of animals supposed
to be native to them; the seas are
crowded with Spanish ships sailing
in all directions. At one corner is a
drawing of a quadrant, with an ex-
PLANTATION how to use it, and on the
space followed by the Pacific Ocean
an astrolabe with a silk chord at
tached to the center. The line of
division made by Alexander vi is |
drawn exactely as on his map, with |
the addition that on each side of it |
is a flagstaff, that on the west carry
ing the Spanish flag, and that on the |
east the Portuguese.
Altogether this map has the ap-
pearance of being to that of Alexan-
der vi what a fairly engrossed copy
Of a legal document would be to the
draft to which additions and
had been made. 1t
however, some interesting
subjects for inquiry which can only
be solved by reference to papers in
the vatican archives of the regesta of
Alexander vi, and his immediate sue
,essors to Clement VII, in whose time
this map dated. 1t is curious that
while Diego Ribero's map bears the
late of 1929, when Clement VII oc-
,upied the papal throne, as already
minated, the pentifcal arms and
lara which adorn it in the middle of
others at the foot should be those of
julius Ii, who was elected in 1903 to
succeed Plus III, in the same year in
which Alexander vi died. julius II
lied in 1913. The drawing through
,ut is exquisitely careful and clear.
n the four corners winds are repre-
'ented blowing their cheeks, and the
luadrants, coats of arms, &C., are
'ichly Illuminated. England figures
Is divided from Scotland either by
liver or branch of the sea, and Edin-
,urgh is called Edim. The principal
owns in England are called Bristol,
York, and Londres. The Irish towns
Ire written in Celtic. The chief Euro
bean towns are named, but Russia Is
n state of great confusion. Jeru-
allen, which is represented about
800 miles distant from where it
eally exists, has three crosses to in
licate Cavalry. The Nile, strange to
elate, is traced to it's source to three
axes. America is a rather shadowy
ointment, much mixed up with ocean.
'ucatan and New Spain are given,
nd Brazil is also Indicated. The
orthern continentends at Labrador.
Tours can easily be spent studying
his unique document.