Letter received by Banks from John Walker, 10 March 1804 (Series 72.195) - No. 0001

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My dear Sir Joseph 

          I now return accompanied by my particular acknowledgements the papers respecting the Planisphere of Fra: Maure, which appears an interesting monument of the Geography of the 15th Century - though I am not perfectly convinced from what is advanced in opposition to Ramasio, that the Map was constructed from original materials.  I should conceive it more probable, that he took either that of Marco Polo, or some other of acknowledged Reputation, which he altered & improved according to the information he obtained from various sources - perhaps few Cities in Europe, were so well adopted as an evidence for the Geographer, as Venice in that Age, when her power & extent of Commerce, drew together the Natives of every Civilized Country in the World, & furnished means of Geographical knowledge unattainable elsewhere.  It w.d [would] be desirable to obtain a Copy of the Map at Alcobaca to compare  with the Venetian one.

          The History of Geographical Charts & Maps has but little engaged my attention, but it appears to me that a Vol: comprehending a sketch of the Subject from the earliest periods