Catalog Archive
Auction 129, Lot 742

"Tab. V. Asiae, Repraesentans Mediam Hyrcaniam, Assyriam, Susianam, ac Persidem", Ptolemy/Mercator

Subject: Iran, Iraq and Armenia

Period: 1730 (published)

Publication: Claudii Ptolemaei's Atlas Tabulae geographicae Orbis Terrarum

Color: Hand Color

Size:
18 x 13.5 inches
45.7 x 34.3 cm
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This Ptolemaic map depicts much of Persia (Iran), Mesopotamia (Iraq) and part of Armenia. The map stretches from the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea and features Babylon (Baghdad), the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Mercator originally published this map in his 1578 edition of Ptolemy's great Geography. Although he 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 embellished with fine cartouches.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara (Nordenskiold) #235-11.

Condition: B

There are several old ink notations that have been lightened, but are still visible.

Estimate: $160 - $200

Unsold

Closed on 9/23/2009

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