[PORTOLAN CHART] Manuscript chart on vellum depicting the Mediterranean basin [[Iberian Peninsula, mid-16th century]. Manuscript nautical chart on a single sheet of vellum (960 × 610 mm), centred on the Mediterranean basin. The geographic scope extends north to the Shetland Islands and the Norwegian coast (excluding the Baltic Sea), east to the eastern shores of the Black Sea, south to the Red Sea and westward to the Azores (including Faja Grande and Corvo). The Atlantic coastline is shown as far south as the Mauritanian coast, between present-day Guerguerat and Ras Nouadhibou. Coastlines are drawn in reddish ink; smaller islands are fully painted in gold, blue, red, or green, while major islands are outlined in green. No rivers are shown. Toponyms are written in red and blac ink, numbering over 800 coastal place names. Seven town vignettes are included, among them Lisbon (topped by the Portuguese flag), Jerusalem (marked with the Cross of Golgotha), and Venice (with the Lion of Saint Mark). The decorative programme is enriched by 13 heraldic arms and flags of kingdoms: Ireland, Scotland, England, the fleur-de-lys of France, the coat of arms of Spain, the likely flag of Genoese Gazaria over Crimea (denoting the Sanjak of Caffa), and the banner of the Portuguese Order of Christ positioned over Ceuta. Particularly noteworthy is the imperial double-headed eagle over Tunis: if this refers to actual Habsburg occupation rather than a retrospective tribute, it would suggest a dating prior to 1574, when the city was retaken by Ottoman forces (it had been under Christian control since 1534). Additional decorations include a Christus Patiens, two Portuguese carracks sailing the Atlantic, and a group of palm trees with rocks in the Sahara. There are eight wind roses, two of which prominently display a fleur-de-lys at the north point. A latitude scale runs along the extreme left border, marked from the 20th to the 60th parallel; three scale bars are present, two framed in decorative cartouches. A highly accomplished portolan chart, executed in the Iberian style, which is characterised by greater visual richness than the typically more restrained Italian school. This chart was likely intended for presentation or collection rather than active navigational use. Emerging in the 13th century, portolan charts were essential tools for coastal navigation in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. While functional charts left inland areas blank, luxury examples such as this one often featured elaborate decoration and symbolic embellishments. This example shares notable stylistic and compositional features with the HM1549 portolan chart at the Huntington Library, signed by Luis Teixeira. The distribution of town vignettes, flags, the crucifix, and the palm motif are highly comparable, though with subtle stylistic differences. The toponymic script also shows significant similarities. Geographically, the present chart spans from the 19th to the 61st parallel and is centred on Sicily, while HM1549 covers the 19th to the 64th and is centred on Sardinia. It is also worth noting that while HM1549 shows the Ottoman flag flying over Tunis, the present chart features the imperial eagle. Assuming, as previously noted, that this marks actual territorial control and not a symbolic anachronism, the map may be dated prior to 1574. This would place it within the orbit of a youthful Luis Teixeira and the Portuguese cartographic school, especially considering that Teixeira passed his cosmography examination in 1564 under Pedro Nunes and Jorge Reinel, and received a royal commission in 1569 to produce nautical charts for the Portuguese navy. Condition: Very good. Traces of former mounting (with small nails) at the edges and near the latitude scale; slight cockling of the vellum. Grateful thanks to Richard Pflederer and Chet van Duzer for the insightful dialogue and valuable scholarly exchange. Manuscript nautical chart on a single sheet of vellum (960 × 610 mm), centred on the Mediterranean basin. The geographic scope extends north to the Shetland Islands and the Norwegian coast (excluding the Baltic Sea), east to the eastern shores of the Black Sea, south to the Red Sea (depicted without port indications and terminating approximately at Halayeb), and westward to the Azores and Canary Islands (including Faja Grande and Corvo). The Atlantic coastline is shown as far south as the Mauritanian coast, between present-day Guerguerat and Ras Nouadhibou. Coastlines are drawn in reddish ink; smaller islands are fully painted in gold, blue, red, or green, while major islands are outlined in green. No rivers are shown. Toponyms are written in red ink, numbering over 800 coastal place names. Seven town vignettes are included, among them Lisbon (topped by the Portuguese flag), Jerusalem (marked with the Cross of Golgotha), and Venice (with the Lion of Saint Mark). The decorative programme is enriched by 13 heraldic arms and flags of kingdoms: Ireland, Scotland, England, the fleur-de-lys of France, the coat of arms of Spain, the likely flag of Genoese Gazaria over Crimea (denoting the Sanjak of Caffa), and the banner of the Portuguese Order of Christ positioned over Ceuta. Particularly noteworthy is the imperial double-headed eagle over Tunis: if this refers to actual Habsburg occupation rather than a retrospective tribute, it would suggest a dating prior to 1574, when the city was retaken by Ottoman forces (it had been under Christian control since 1534). Additional decorations include a Christus Patiens at the far left margin, two Portuguese carracks sailing the Atlantic, and a group of palm trees with rocks in the Sahara, possibly representing the Atlas Mountains. There are eight wind roses, two of which prominently display a fleur-de-lys at the north point. A latitude scale runs along the extreme left border, marked from the 20th to the 60th parallel; three scale bars are present, two framed in decorative cartouches. A highly accomplished portolan chart, executed in the Iberian style, which is characterised by greater visual richness than the typically more restrained Italian school. This chart was likely intended for presentation or collection rather than active navigational use. Emerging in the 13th century, portolan charts were essential tools for coastal navigation in the Mediterranean and Atlantic. While functional charts left inland areas blank, luxury examples such as this one often featured elaborate decoration and symbolic embellishments. This example shares notable stylistic and compositional features with the HM1549 portolan chart at the Huntington Library, signed by Luis Teixeira. The distribution of town vignettes, flags, the crucifix, and the palm motif are highly comparable, though with subtle stylistic differences. The toponymic script also shows significant similarities. Geographically, the present chart spans from the 19th to the 61st parallel and is centred on Sicily, while HM1549 covers the 19th to the 64th and is centred on Sardinia. It is also worth noting that while HM1549 shows the Ottoman flag flying over Tunis, the present chart features the imperial eagle. Assuming, as previously noted, that this marks actual territorial control and not a symbolic anachronism, the map may be dated prior to 1574. This would place it within the orbit of a youthful Luis Teixeira and the Portuguese cartographic school, especially considering that Teixeira passed his cosmography examination in 1564 under Pedro Nunes and Jorge Reinel, and received a royal commission in 1569 to produce nautical charts for the Portuguese navy. Condition: Very good. Traces of former mounting (with small nails) at the edges and near the latitude scale; slight co