Benincasa 1468 and 1469. Four Most Important Maps

According to Cortesão in his 'History of Portuguese Cartography', Volume II (1971) the four maps from G. Benincasa made in 1468 and 1469 are the "most important".  Because on them "for the first time" the Cape Verde Islands are "represented" and the African coast reaches a little beyond Cape Mesurado.

Cortesão's subscription on map 1 (fig. 83) and 4 (fig 84):

Details of the four maps.

1. Benincasa 1468. British Library (London) Add MS 6390

Cortesão:

Full map. Source: Garcia de Orta, 'Cinco seculos de cartografia das ilhas de Cabo Verde', A. Teixeira da Mota (1961) and Cortesão, 'History of Portuguese Cartography', Volume II (1971)

 

Detail with Cabo Verde Islands:

2. Benincasa 1468. Principe di Trabia e Butera

Owners: (1) unknown (2) Principe di Trabia e Butera (3) Otto Schäfer (4) H.P. Kraus (5) British Rail Pension Fund (6) unknown (7) unknown. More on this map in my blog 'Islands in Blue, Red, Gold Leaf and Green'.

Cortesão:

Full map. Source: Garcia de Orta, 'Cinco seculos de cartografia das ilhas de Cabo Verde', A. Teixeira da Mota (1961)

Detail with Cabo Verde Islands:

3. Benincasa 1469. British Library (London) ADD MS 31315

Cortesão:

Full map:

Not found yet

Detail with Cabo Verde Islands:

Not found yet

4. Benincasa 1469. Biblioteca Ambrosiana (Milano) SP2, 35

Cortesão:

Full map. Source: Garcia de Orta, 'Cinco seculos de cartografia das ilhas de Cabo Verde', A. Teixeira da Mota (1961) and Cortesão, 'History of Portuguese Cartography', Volume II (1971)

Detail with Cabo Verde Islands:

Benincasa 1468 Princes of Trabia. Islands in Blue, Red, Gold Leaf and Green

According to Armando Cortesão and Tony Campbell there are two remaining Benincasa atlases with the Cape Verde islands on them from year 1468. It's unclear which one of the two is older. 

1. Benincasa, G. 1468. Owner British Library. Number 'Add. MS 6390'

2. Benincasa, G. 1468. According to Cortesão the owner is 'Principe di Trabia e Butera'. Accordering to Campbell '(H.P. Kraus)'. Information Cortesão in his 'History of Portuguese Cartography', Volume II (1971):

Atlas 2 is for sale at Christie's for an estimated price of USD 2,397,000 - 3,995,000.

Signature Benincasa and date 1468

Side view

Upper cover

Upper cover. Detail

Back cover

Chart with Cape Verde coast and Cape Verde islands

Cape Verde islands detail

Cape Verde coast

Christie's 'Overview' of this map

Mark in the 'Provenance' that the Princes of Trabia ('Principe di Trabia') was the second owner and Kraus the fourth. The sixth owner is selling this Benincasa 1468 atlas.