One of the fifteenth-century maps stolen this summer from the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid has officially been returned to Spanish control, the Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday. Australian map dealer Simon Dewez purchased the 1482 Ulm Ptolemy World Map in America after it was stolen in Spain by César Gómez Rivero. "The Prime Minister's parliamentary secretary, Anthony Byrne, returned the stolen artefact to the Spanish ambassador, Antonio Cosano, yesterday [Monday] at the National Library in Canberra."
Cosano told reporters "This country is sending a very strong and firm message that it fully implements its international obligations and Australia is not a safe haven for the illicit export of the cultural heritage of any nation."
[h/t Joyce]
