Catalog Archive
Auction 136, Lot 715

"Ceilan insula", Hondius/Purchas

Subject: Sri Lanka

Period: 1625 (published)

Publication: Purchas his Pilgrimes…

Color: Hand Color

Size:
7.2 x 5.6 inches
18.3 x 14.2 cm
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Originally published in Hondius' Atlas Minor this attractive miniature map of the island of Ceylon was one of the many Hondius copperplates used by the English travel writer Samuel Purchas to illustrate the text of his important and influential collection of voyages. The finely engraved map is derived from Mercator's folio map with north oriented to the left. The various kingdoms are located along with the mines that made the island of such importance. On a complete sheet of English text with an interesting description that includes "Zeilan the chiefe of worldly treasures and pleasure."

References:

Condition: B

Trimmed into neatline at left, else very good.

Estimate: $240 - $300

Unsold

Closed on 6/1/2011

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