Camocio’s map of Cyprus in it’s first state, 1566, published in Venice.
 
In the title of the map the name of Camocio appeared.
This engraving is probably based on a woodcut map created by Giovanni Domenico Zorzi and printed by Matteo Pagano in 1538. 
Camocio made modifications to the map, including adding the winged lion of St. Mark to the cartouche. 
He also made some text alterations and added numerous decorative elements in the sea. The map was reprinted around a century later by Stefano Scolari.
 
The Camocio map of Cyprus is an extremely rare and very sought-after map. 
 
This copy is in excellent condition. As often with Lafrereri maps, this map was mounted on blank papers on all four side in order to create a uniform paper size for binding in an atlas. The map is a copper engraving.
 
Italy was the primary hub for map production in Europe during this time, particularly in Rome and Venice. Italian mapmakers produced around 660 different maps of the world, largely based on large woodcut maps. These maps, engraved on copper, served as templates for other renowned mapmakers like Mercator and Ortelius. Individual maps of various sizes were often customized according to the buyer's preferences and bound together, giving rise to collections known as Lafreri-Atlases. Notable figures in this era included Antonio Lafreri, Camocio, Bertelli, Duchetti, and Forlani.
 
In addition to producing single-sheet maps of continents and the world, Camocio also published an Isolario; a collection of island maps and harbor plans. Initially released between approximately 1566 and 1574 without a title, it was later titled "Isole Famose Porti, Fortezze E Terre Maritime" by Donato Bertelli after Camocio's death, who continued to publish the plates under his own name.
 
Giovanni Francesco Camocio
Giovanni Francesco Camocio, a Venetian publisher and engraver, was born in the first half of the 16th century, likely in Asolo. He later relocated to Venice, where records of his publishing activities date back to 1552. Camocio operated a bookshop called "Al segno della Piramide" in San Lio in Merceria, specializing in the sale of prints, engraved reproductions of artworks, and geographical maps. He was a significant figure in the publishing world, evident from the frequent appearance of his name on various papers and prints, as well as numerous requests for privileges indicating his extensive engagement. His catalog included works derived from renowned artists like Titian and Michelangelo, as well as city views, fortresses, and geographic maps. Camocio collaborated with notable engravers and cartographers such as Domenico Zenoi, Paolo Forlani, and Giacomo Gastaldi for the creation of these maps. It is presumed that Camocio passed away around 1575, coinciding with the outbreak of a severe plague in Venice, as there are no further records of his activities after this time.
 
Paolo Forlani 
Paolo Forlani was a highly productive map engraver operating in Venice during the sixteenth century. Little is known about his personal life except for the maps and prints he left behind, numbering nearly 100 (or 185 when considering later states). It is believed he originated from Verona and passed away in Venice around the mid-1570s, possibly due to the plague.
 
The Lafreri School
The Lafreri School refers to a group of mapmakers, engravers, and publishers who operated in Rome and Venice from around 1544 to 1585. These individuals, though loosely connected through business partnerships and collaborations, produced maps that were later assembled into composite atlases. The selection of maps for these atlases was based on the preferences of the buyer or compiler. Initially, the maps were published individually, resulting in a wide range of styles and sizes being included under the umbrella of the "School."
 
The surviving Lafreri atlases showcase this diversity, with maps bound in various formats such as folded maps, those with wide or trimmed margins, smaller maps, and more.
 
Prominent figures within the Lafreri School included renowned mapmakers like Giacomo Gastaldi and Paolo Forlani. The eponymous Antonio Lafreri, after whom the School is named, was primarily a map and printseller. His 1572 catalog, titled 'Indice Delle Tavole Moderne Di Geografia Della Maggior Parte Del Mondo' shared a similar title to many of the composite atlases, leading to his name becoming associated with the entire output of the larger group.