An extremely rare miniature map of Portugal

FRESCHOT, Casimir Don.

(121) Portogallo in Spagna. ha il suo Re particolare . popoli di Religione Catholica. Longhezza 500 miglia.
Venice: Giovanni Pare', c. 1680. Sheet 50 x 52mm.

Trimmed from a large broadsheet.

An extremely rare map of Portugal, one of 153 squares of a 'goose game', 'Geografia ridotta a giuoco per istruttione della giovane nobiltà veneziana', of which there is one known complete example, in the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice.
The game was designed by Don Casimir Freschot, a Benedictine Priest and author of about 50 books on history and Venice, to facilitate 'the teaching of geography to the young Venetian nobility'. Engraved by Anton Francesco Lucini, this was probably the earliest geographical game to be published. The 'board' comprised 153 squares containing small maps, arranged in a spiral, with a plan of Venice at the centre. Above the game were four larger maps of the continents, the rules, including the prizes and forfeits for landing on squares, and a dedication.

'Charta Geographica' magazine, vol.1, page 76; plus insert with facsimile broadsheet.
Stock ID : 11159