The oldest and rarest manuscript map in the American Geographical Society Library’s collection–Venetian cartographer Giovanni Leardo’s 1452 mappamundi–will be scanned using multispectral technology in March this year.

A team from the Lazarus Project, based at the University of Rochester, is visiting AGSL to scan the Leardo and, via digital processing, produce archival-quality images that will reveal faded and even invisible-to-the-naked-eye inscriptions on the nearly 600 year-old hand-drawn map.

The Lazarus team will offer a talk on their project and the AGSL’s Leardo map on Wednesday, March 12 at 5 p.m. in the AGSL.

Read more about the Lazarus Project’s visit to 51ÁÔÆæ here>

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One of the American Geographical Society Library’s most cherished holdings, the 1452 Mappamundi by the Venetian cartographer Giovanni Leardo, is undergoing multispectral imaging this winter. Join us for a series of events, starting with a talk by AGSL Curator Marcy Bidney on Wednesday, February 19.

There are only three Leardo mappamundi left in the world. One of them is held here in Milwaukee at the AGSL, and the other two are held at libraries in Italy. In fall 2024, Bidney traveled to Italy to see the maps themselves. In this talk she will discuss the Leardo maps and their place in the history of cartography, her visits to the libraries in Italy, and some of the other treasures she was able to see from their collections.

Bidney’s talk will be held at 3:00 p.m. in the AGSL, located on the third floor of the 51ÁÔÆæ Golda Meir Library, 2311 E. Hartford Ave.

A team from the will visit AGSL in March to image the Leardo, and will offer a public lecture on Wednesday, March 12.

Image: Giovanni Leardo, “Mappamundi,” 1452

The post Celebrating AGSL’s Leardo Mappamundi appeared first on 51ÁÔÆæ Libraries.

More about the Lazarus Project and AGSL>

The post Giovanni Leardo and His 15th Century World Maps & Recovering Lost Texts with Multispectral Imaging appeared first on 51ÁÔÆæ Libraries.