Giacomo Gastaldi's book by Doug Sims. A review of the man and his research

 Doug Sims represents one of the best reasons for being a citizen of the United States.   This fabulously rich country nurtures institutions like the Newberry Library, Columbia University, the New York Public Library and the Library of Congress where scholars like Doug can do foundational research.   My library of 30,000 reference books on the History of Cartography exists because of people like Doug.  He has been my mentor and hero for most of my life.

This towering masterpiece compilation of Gastaldi's publications, sources and times is long overdue.    Mace, Cloves, Nutmeg, Pepper and Cinnamon are the reasons that Venice was the most important city in the world for 750 years.   As the distribution point for the Silk Road,  Venice was the most important city in Europe and Gastaldi's maps detailed its dominance.

It has always fascinated me that the Portuguese sea routes are the reason that Venice's decline as a trading center started in 1499 when Vasco de Gama sailed around Africa on his way to the Spice Islands.   This story of loss is best illustrated by studying the maps that Doug has cataloged and illustrated with his perseverance and genius.  

Doug's book proves to all of us that Gastaldi was the towering cartographer of the Renaissance creating many more cornerstone, template maps than anyone else. 

His 1548 edition of Ptolemy is the first atlas of America and best illustration of the Silk Road Routes.  For the first time the importance of this book is detailed by Doug

Thank you for giving me so much joy to learn so much Doug

With great  respect,

Graham Arader