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Greetings,
A faculty memeber here at the University of Hawaii at Manoa by the name of
Dr. Gunnar Thompson approached me recently while I was working in the Map
Collection.  He told me of a very interesting discovery.  Since I am by no
means an expert on early mapping of America, I suggested to Dr. Thompson that
he spread the news of his discovery thru the internet for further discussion.
Since he doesn't have email access, he has written a short summary for me to
post on Maps-L and Maphist forums.  Please excuse the cross-postings and any
of my inadvertant typos.  I will forward a paper copy of any comments and
discussion attributed to his message to Dr. Thompson.  If anyone would like
to contact him directly, his address/phone/fax is included in his message
which follows.
 
Thank you very much.
Ross Togashi
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Hamilton Library Map Collection
 
-------------------------Dr. Gunnar Thompson's message--------------
 
Attention:  Discovery of America's Oldest Map -- 1414 AD
 
  Researchers at University of Hawaii have identified a 1414 map
that shows North America as a continent with bays and headlands
northwest of Norway on a map by Albertin DeVirga.  Headlands follow
the Greenland, Helluland, Markland, Vinland sequence on maps by
Sigurdur Stefansson (1590) and Bishop Resen (1600).  This territory
is labeled "Norveca Europa".  Florida is shown as a peninsula at the
apex of Norveca.  DeVirga's map also has South America as a huge
island-continent southeast of Asia.  This island hasa a western
coast almost identical to South America between Ecuador and Peru and
it is identified as "Ca-paru" on the map.  The accuracy of these
New World continents is sufficient to verify pre-Columbian surveys
by skilled astronomers.  Asian, Arabian, Roman, and English sources
are considered.  Nicholas of Lynn is known to have surveyed "northern
regions" from 1360 to 1380 AD.
 
  The map can be found in Marcel Destombes, Ed., Mappemondes AD
1200-1500; Imago Mundi Supplement IV: A Review of Early Cartography.
Amsterdam : N. Israel, 1964.
 
  Copies of the map will be sent by mail for SASE to:
    Gunnar Thompson
    221 Wist Annex - CE
    Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa
    Honolulu, HI   96822-2463      or by fax: (808) 956-3814
 
  Technical drafts covering related maps and history are available
at cost.  Thanks again.
 
Sincerely,
Gunnar Thompson (signed)
Gunnar Thompson, Ph.D.
(808) 988-5581; 956-7904
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