Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519

Martin Fernandez de Enciso, «Sum of Geography, which deals with all the parts and provinces of the world: especially the Indies. And deals extensively with the art of navigation, together with the sphere in the vernacular, with the regulation of the Sun and the North: newly made. With royal privilege.», 148 pages, House of Trade (Casa de la Contratación), Seville, 1519.

Preliminary note

Note that I try to use, even in these non-heraldic cases, the language of blazon, thus I speak of positions such as in chief, in base, dexter or sinister, arrangements such as in bend and in bend sinister and tinctures such as sable, azure or gules.

Zodiacal bands in armillary spheres: A comparative analysis of Marchant (1499) and Fernández de Enciso (1519) engravings

[Marchant, G.; 1499; page 15] and [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519; page 1] depict an armillary sphere with the zodiac signs, &Aries; Aries, &Taurus; Taurus, &Gemini; Gemini, &Cancer; Cancer, &Leo; Leo, &Virgo; Virgo, &Libra; Libra, &Scorpio; Scorpio, &Sagittarius; Sagittarius, &Capricorn; Capricorn, &Aquarius; Aquarius and &Pisces; Pisces, represented on a band around the sphere. I have compared both zodiacal bands by means of the composition of the previous image.

In this image I have made there are:

• In the 3^rd row, the band of zodiac signs of the armillary sphere by [Marchant, G.; 1499].
• Above, in the 2^nd row, the band of my interpretation of the same previous engraving.
• In chief, at the very top, in the 1^st row, the zodiac signs in sable and azure, with those not visible, in the order of [Marchant, G.; 1499], that is, as read by the reader of the book, from his frontal perspective of the engraving, in counterclockwise direction, &Gemini;, &Taurus;, &Aries;, &Pisces;, &Aquarius;, &Capricorn;, &Sagittarius;, &Scorpio;, &Libra;, &Virgo;, &Leo; and &Cancer; which is not visible. Note that, for example, Taurus appears before Aries so the sequence is geocentric, that is, arranged from the point of view of an observer located at the center of the Earth, which is different from the book reader.
• Below, in the 4^th row, the band of zodiac signs of the armillary sphere by [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519].
• In base, at the very bottom, in the 5^th row, the zodiac signs in black and in cyan, with those not visible, in the order of [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519], that is, as read by the same reader of the book in counterclockwise direction, &Capricorn;, &Aquarius;, &Pisces;, &Aries;, &Taurus;, &Gemini;, &Cancer; which is not visible, &Leo;, &Virgo;, &Libra;, &Scorpio;, and &Sagittarius; which is also not visible. Note that in this case, for example, Aries appears before Taurus so the sequence is ecliptic, that is, from the point of view of an observer located in outer space, the point of view of the ecliptic sequence coinciding with the point of view of the book reader.

The 3 main differences observed are:

• [Marchant, G.; 1499], number 6 in the image, places at the top the zodiac signs that [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519], number 7 in the image, places at the bottom, as a curiosity it can be seen in my interpretation of [Marchant, G.; 1499] that for aesthetic reasons I placed at top and bottom the zodiac signs as [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519] does.
• They do not start in the same position, it is &Aries; Aries that has a more similar position in both but with one slot of difference.
• The signs in [Marchant, G.; 1499] and [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519] rotate in opposite directions.

The only important conceptual difference is the reverse rotation of the zodiac signs, that is, that [Marchant, G.; 1499] uses the geocentric sequence and [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519] uses the ecliptic sequence. In no case is it a printing error of an engraving in mirror, since neither of the two armillary spheres is engraved in mirror, as both have the zodiacal band in bend, and if they were engraved in mirror the zodiacal band would appear placed in bend sinister.

We could also study the few non-symmetrical signs that can be distinguished completely:

• For example, on the back side of the band of [Marchant, G.; 1499], &Scorpio; Scorpio has the scorpion’s stinger in the shape of an m pointing to sinister (the reader’s right), so it makes sense from the point of view of a geocentric observer.
• For example, on the back side of the band of [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519], &Leo; Leo seems to have the circle of its head to dexter (the reader’s left) and the curl of its tail to sinister (the left of a geocentric observer), while in &Scorpio; Scorpio, the stinger of the m-scorpion seems to point to dexter (the reader’s left) as if the sign were intended to be seen from the other side of the outside, piercing the band, so that the book reader sees the sign in mirror. Be that as it may, the arrangement of these 2 signs does not seem consistent with each other.

Although it is not a case of printing the engraving in mirror, such errors exist since, if we go beyond the armillary sphere of [Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519] to study its outer decoration, we see that the SPQR, of «Senatus Populusque Romanus», is in mirror, I have marked it with a square of gules with the number 8 in the image, so that, although its armillary sphere is well printed, in the outer decoration the printer made a mistake and printed it the other way round.

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Bibliographical reference of century XVI.

Classification: In black and white and Castilian language.

Author: Fernández de Enciso, Martín.

The following articles cite this bibliographic reference:

• Fernández de Enciso, M.; 1519
• Marchant, G.; 1499

External resources:

• At the Naval Chair, Spanish Navy, University of Murcia,.
• Link to the full PDF.

Internal resources: FernandezDeEncisoM1519.SumaDeGeographia.CatedraNaval.pdf in scanned PDF format at the Naval Chair, Spanish Navy, University of Murcia..

Banner Argent, a stag trippant Gules, attired and hoofed Sable, standing on a terrace in base Vert charged with a fess Or; on a chief Sable, three geese volant contourné Argent

Pendón de plata, un ciervo pasante de gules, ramado y uñado de sable, terrazado de una campaña de sinople cargada de una faja de oro; en un jefe de sable, tres gansos volantes alterados de plata

The image shows the design created for its production, alongside the finished fabric banner.

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Blazon keywords: Argent, One, Stag, Tripant, Gules, Attired, Hoofed, Sable, Terrace in base, Base, Vert, Charged, Fess, Or, Chief, Three, Goose, Volant and Facing sinister.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Photographic, Banner of arms and Flag.

Bearer: McCarthy, Eugene.

Azure, issuant from base a frog's head and from flanks its forelegs in chevron Or, in chief a mullet of seven points Argent.

Coat of arms of Arturo Taborda, Venezuela, emblazoned by me. Four-step schema showing how I planned the construction of this coat of arms, based on two in pale, centered circles, each with a diameter equal to half the width of the shield, the first circle is used to inscribe the mullet of seven points, and the second to inscribe the frog’s head, in addition, I extended the axes of two rays of the mullet, specifically the two that form the angle of a chevron, and used those two axes as guides for placing the frog’s forelegs.

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, One, Seven, Issuant from base, Frog, Head, Flank, Foreleg, In chevron, In chief and Mullet.

Style keywords: Ratio, Outlined, Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Ogee.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Schema, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Taborda, Arturo.

Azure, issuant from base a frog's head and from flanks its forelegs in chevron Or, in chief a mullet of seven points Argent.

Coat of arms interpreted by me, in plain tinctures, contoured in Sable, with an ogee outer contour and with a texturized finish.

Coat of arms of Arturo Taborda, Venezuela, emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, One, Seven, Issuant from base, Frog, Head, Flank, Foreleg, In chevron, In chief and Mullet.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Plain tincture and Ogee.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Taborda, Arturo.

Azure, issuant from base a frog's head and from flanks its forelegs in chevron Or, in chief a mullet of seven points Argent.

Escudo de azur, moviente de la punta una cabeza de rana y de los flancos sus patas delanteras en chevron todo de oro, en jefe una estrella de siete puntas de plata.

Arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finish.

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, One, Seven, Issuant from base, Frog, Head, Flank, Foreleg, In chevron, In chief and Mullet.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Taborda, Arturo.

Azure, issuant from base a frog's head and from flanks its forelegs in chevron Or, in chief a mullet of seven points Argent. Motto: «Clama a mí».

Escudo de azur, moviente de la punta una cabeza de rana y de los flancos sus patas delanteras en chevron todo de oro, en jefe una estrella de siete puntas de plata. Lema: «Clama a mí».

Arms painted by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finishing.

Coat of arms of Arturo Taborda, Venezuela, emblazoned by me. The motto came from Jeremiah 33:3 «Clama ad me, et exaudiam te, et annuntiabo tibi grandia et firma quæ nescis» ~ «Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know».

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, One, Seven, Issuant from base, Frog, Head, Flank, Foreleg, In chevron, In chief, Mullet and Motto.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Taborda, Arturo.

Azure, issuant from base a frog's head and from flanks its forelegs in chevron Or, in chief a mullet of seven points Argent. Crest: Upon a helm with a wreath Or and Azure, a demi-frog erect Or, grasping with its forelegs an apple and a closed book Azure. Mantling: Azure doubled Or.

Arms interpreted by me, highlighted with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee outer contour and with a freehand finish.

Coat of arms of Arturo Taborda, Venezuela, emblazoned by me.

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, One, Seven, Issuant from base, Frog, Head, Flank, Foreleg, In chevron, In chief, Mullet, Crest and mantling, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Wreath, Demi, Erect, Grasping, Apple, Closed book, Book, Mantling and Doubled.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Taborda, Arturo.

Azure, issuant from base a frog's head and from flanks its forelegs in chevron Or, in chief a mullet of seven points Argent. Crest: Upon a helm with a wreath Or and Azure, a demi-frog erect Or, grasping with its forelegs an apple and a closed book Azure. Mantling: Azure doubled Or. Motto: «Clama a mí».

Arms emblazoned by me, illuminated with lights and shadows, contoured in Sable, with an ogee external shape and with a freehand finish.

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Blazon keywords: Azure, Or, Argent, One, Seven, Issuant from base, Frog, Head, Flank, Foreleg, In chevron, In chief, Mullet, Crest and mantling, Crest, Upon (wreath), Helm, Wreath, Demi, Erect, Grasping, Apple, Closed book, Book, Mantling, Doubled and Motto.

Style keywords: Outlined in sable, Illuminated, Ogee and Freehand.

Classification: Personal, Interpreted, Boa and Coat of arms.

Bearer: Taborda, Arturo.

Sigue por: Osmont, C.; 1858.