Catalog Archive
Auction 128, Lot 868

"[Aphricae Tabula secunda continet]", Ptolemy/Fries

Subject: Northern Africa

Period: 1541 (published)

Publication: Claudii Ptolemaei Alexandrini Geographicae…

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18 x 11 inches
45.7 x 27.9 cm
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This fine Ptolemaic map is from the wood blocks of Laurent Fries, the famous physician, astrologer and geographer. The map covers the central part of northern Africa, present-day Tunisia and Libya. It also shows the southern part of Sardinia and Sicily and a group of oversized Mediterranean islands including Malta. The topography is dominated by large rivers, convoluted mountain ranges and the locations of ancient cities. This edition, printed by Gaspar Trechsel, is a reissue of the 1535 edition, which was printed from the same blocks as those in the 1525 edition with wear showing in the lower side borders. Title is from the verso, which contains Latin text.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara (Nordenskiold) #211-12.

Condition: A

The color is a bit uneven, with some worm tracks professionally filled in the wide original margins.

Estimate: $400 - $475

Unsold

Closed on 5/20/2009

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