"Tabu Nova Asiae Mi", Ptolemy/Fries

A spectacular example of this early and desirable Ptolemaic of the Middle East. Cyprus is surprisingly shown less accurately than the earlier 1513 edition. There is good detail of place names along the shoreline with the interior limited to a few rivers, mountain ranges, a lake, and a king seated on his throne. Title above the map is in a fancy banner-style cartouche. On verso is Latin text, some very fine architectural woodcut illustrations attributed to Hans Holbein of Basel, and the title "de Mahometo et Turcarum Origine et moribus." Published in Lyon by Melchior and Gaspar Treschsel. This map is from the atlas often referred to as 'editio prima Serveti' after its editor, Michael Villanovus, better known as Servetus, who was burned alive in 1553 for heresy. The map of the Holy Land from this atlas had on its verso a comment suggesting that the area was not as beautiful and fertile as generally believed, but was actually barren, according to travelers. This statement was one of the pieces of evidence used against Servetus. Calvin had many copies of the 1535 atlas confiscated and burned with Servetus.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara #209-33.

Condition: A

A near fine example on fine, clean paper with huge margins with crisp impression. A little show through of text from verso.