"Taprobana Insula", Munster, Sebastian

This is a great woodblock map of the island of Taprobana, which was variously thought to be Ceylon (Sri Lanka) or Sumatra until late in the sixteenth century. This map depicts Ceylon with the typical misconceptions of Ptolemy showing a small part of India incorrectly in the northeast corner of the map. A most interesting feature of the map is the large engraving of an elephant beneath a tree that was copied from Gastaldi with descriptive text in a cartouche below. The elephant is shown with large padded feet and a scoop on the end of its trunk. Latin text on verso.

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Condition: B+

Faint toning along centerfold and a couple minor spots.