Catalog Archive
Auction 124, Lot 693

"Tab. II. Africae Complectens Africam Proprie dictam", Ptolemy/Mercator

Subject: Northern Africa

Period: 1730 (published)

Publication: Claudii Ptolemaei's Atlas Tabulae geographicae Orbis Terrarum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18 x 13 inches
45.7 x 33 cm
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Decorative Ptolemaic map of Northern Africa with the southern part of Sardinia and Sicily and Malta. The sea is stipple engraved and contains two very fanciful sea monsters. At the lower border are a lion and a leopard. A decorative title cartouche completes the composition. 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 are the most decorative of Ptolemaic maps.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara, (Nordenskiold-2) #235-3.

Condition: B

There are several ink notations and some light scattered foxing.

Estimate: $200 - $250

Sold for: $150

Closed on 5/7/2008

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