(B. Mus., King's Lib., 149 F. 2 p. 282). The shape of
Africa in this map is supposed by some to be valuable in the
history of geographical advance, as suggesting the possibility
of getting round from the Atlantic into the Indian Ocean.


SKETCH MAP OF DULCERT'S PORTOLANO OF 1339 116

(From Nordenskjöld's fac-simile atlas). This illustrates
the accuracy of the 14th century coast-charts, especially in
the Mediterranean.


THE LAURENTIAN PORTOLANO OF 1351 120

(From the Medicean Lib. at Florence; reproduced in
B. Mus., Map room, shelf 158, 22, 23). This is the most
remarkable of all the Portolani of the 14th century, as
giving a view of the world, and especially Africa, which is
far nearer the actual truth than could be expected. Especially
its outline of S. Africa and of the bend of the Guinea
coast, is surprisingly near the truth, even as a guess, in
a chart made one hundred and thirty-five years before the
Cape of Good Hope was first rounded.


N.W. SECTION OF THE CATALAN MAP OF 1375-6 124

(B. Mus., Map room, 13, 14). This gives the British
Islands, the W. coasts of Europe, N. Africa as far as Cape