Catalog Archive
Auction 139, Lot 598

"Tab. VII. Asiae, Exhibens Scythiam, intra Imaum Sogdianam, Bactrianam, Hircaniam, aliasq. Asiae Regiones…", Ptolemy/Mercator

Subject: Central Asia

Period: 1695 (circa)

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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This fine copper engraved map covers Central Asia east of the Caspian Sea and what is now Turkestan, the Steppes, Afghanistan and beyond. The Himalayas and Northern India run across the bottom of the map. 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 and cultural scenes. This map includes scenes of shepherds and their flocks and a great sea monster.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara, (Nordenskiold-2) #235-13.

Condition: B+

Wide, clean margins with a few faint spots.

Estimate: $275 - $350

Sold for: $200

Closed on 2/15/2012

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