Catalog Archive
Auction 91, Lot 14

"Ptolemaisch General Tafel Begreissend die Halbe Kugel der Welt",

Subject: World

Period: 1550 (circa)

Publication: Geographia

Color: Hand Color

Size:
13.3 x 9.7 inches
33.8 x 24.6 cm
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Woodcut, Ptolemaic world map surrounded by clouds and eleven windheads (their names in banners). The continents are oddly shaped and all connected by a great southern continent "Terra incognito secundum Ptolemaeum". There is a very large "Toprobana" (modern day Sri Lanka) in the Indian Ocean, and the Indian subcontinent is severely truncated. Only the northern part of Africa is shown with the Nile originating in a series of lakes in a large mountain range. This impression is from the block after the vertical crack developed in 1541. An elaborate illustration on one side of verso with German text. (Ref: Shirley #76). Attractive later color. This version not mentioned.

References:

Condition: A

Estimate: $950 - $1,100

Sold for: $1,800

Closed on 6/14/2000

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