"Asia", Ruscelli, Girolamo

This uncommon early map shows the entire continent of Asia, with stippled seas in the Italian style. Japan is shown as a huge island with islands trailing behind it in a kite shape, as determined from Jesuit sources. New Guinea is greatly exaggerated with a portion of Australia shown below as Terre incognitae. The name Taprobana, generally shown as Sri Lanka, is applied to Sumatra. This is the fourth Italian edition of Ptolemy by Ruscelli, revised, enlarged and edited by Gioseppe Rosaccio and printed in Venice by the heirs of Melchior Sessa. This map was one of the new continental maps added by Rosaccio for this edition. Italian text on verso.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara (Nordenskiold-2) #227-54; Yeo #4.

Condition: A

A good impression on a sheet with wide original margins. There are two minute, filled worm tracks in the upper margin, well away from the map. The centerfold has been reinforced on the verso.