Catalog Archive
Auction 124, Lot 408

"Tab. I. Europae, Continens Albion, Britanniam, et Hiberniam", Ptolemy/Mercator

Subject: Britain

Period: 1730 (published)

Publication: Claudii Ptolemaei's Atlas Tabulae geographicae Orbis Terrarum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
15.8 x 13 inches
40.1 x 33 cm
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This fine Ptolemaic map of the British Isles shows ancient place names and divisions. Scotland is shown with its distinctive east-west orientation. The map is decorated with a strapwork title cartouche, sea monster and a fishing scene in the North Sea. Although Mercator is most renowned today for the projection he popularized and for first using the term 'atlas' for a collection of maps, he devoted much of his life to his Ptolemaic maps. The maps were beautifully engraved as nearly as possible to their original form and decorated with strapwork cartouches and interesting vignettes reflecting the customs of the region.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara, (Nordenskiold-2) #235-19.

Condition: B+

There are a few ink lines by city names, else very good.

Estimate: $350 - $425

Sold for: $475

Closed on 5/7/2008

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