Catalog Archive
Auction 117, Lot 788

"Sumatra ein grosse Insel so von den alten Geographen Taprobana genennt worden", Munster/Petri

Subject: East Indies - Sumatra

Period: 1550 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Black & White

Size:
14.2 x 12 inches
36.1 x 30.5 cm
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Very early, scarce map of the island of Sumatra and the southern part of Malaysia. This map is Petri's revision of the early Ptolemaic map of the same name, which confused Sumatra with the island of Ceylon. It is one of the earliest maps to focus on this region. Singapore is marked on the tip of Malay peninsula as Cingafufa. Text to the right quotes Pliny, and below is a large engraving of an elephant and his mounted handler (oddly dressed in European clothes). German title and woodcut illustration on verso.

References:

Condition: B

Damp staining at lower right and left corners, coming just into neatline. Some scattered foxing, still an attractive example.

Estimate: $250 - $325

Sold for: $325

Closed on 12/6/2006

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