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Auction 126, Lot 726
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"Sumatra ein grosse Insel so von den alten Geographen Taprobana ist genennt worden", Munster, Sebastian

Subject: Sri Lanka

Period: 1560 (circa)

Publication: Cosmographiae…

Color: Hand Color

Size:
13.3 x 10.2 inches
33.8 x 25.9 cm
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This is great woodblock map of the island of Taprobana, which was variously thought to be Ceylon (Sri Lanka) or Sumatra. 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.

References:

Condition: B+

There is some minor toning and foxing, mostly in the wide blank margins.

Estimate: $400 - $500

Sold for: $300

Closed on 12/3/2008

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