Catalog Archive
Auction 121, Lot 37

"Universalis Tabula Iuxta Ptolemaeum", Mercator, Gerard

Subject: Ancient World

Period: 1730 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18.6 x 13.5 inches
47.2 x 34.3 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This decorative map of the ancient world is the revised second state of Mercator's 1578 Ptolemaic world map. The border was re-engraved, surrounded by allegorical figures representing the four elements of Fire (Zeus), Air (Hera), Water (Neptune), and Earth (Gaia), rather than the strapwork and windhead border of the earlier edition. There is a very large Taprobana (modern day Sri Lanka) in the Indian Ocean and the Indian subcontinent is severely truncated, though the Ganges is noted. Only the northern part of Africa is shown with the Nile originating in the twin lakes south of the Equator in the Lunae montes (Mountains of the Moon).

References: cf. Shirley #139.

Condition: B+

Nice impression with wide original margins and a little minor toning. A hand contemporary to the map has added some numbers in ink to some central cities in the map.

Estimate: $3,500 - $4,000

Unsold

Closed on 9/26/2007

Archived