Claudius Ptolemy was a mathematician, astronomer and geographer who worked in Alexandria, then a part of the Roman Empire, in the 2nd century AD. One of the most learned and influential men of his time, his theories dominated both astronomy and geography for nearly 1500 years. His writings were kept alive by Arabic scholars during the Middle Ages and reemerged in Europe during the Renaissance. The birth of printing led to wide dissemination of his great works on astronomy and geography. There were a number of editions of his Geographia beginning in 1477. These early editions contained maps based on his original writings, known as Ptolemaic maps. As geographic knowledge increased with the explorations of Columbus, Magellan, Cabot and others, maps of the New World were added, and maps of the Old World were revised. Ptolemy's Geographia continued to be revised and published by some of the most important cartographers including Martin Waldseemuller, Sebastian Munster, Giacomo Gastaldi, Jodocus Hondius, and Gerard Mercator (whose last edition was published in 1730).

This is a fine facsimile of Martin Waldseemuller's edition of Ptolemy's Geographia, originally published in Strasbourg by Johann Schott in 1513. Considered the most important of the sixteenth century editions of Ptolemy's work, it contains a separate, additional section with 20 modern maps that is frequently described as the first modern atlas. One of the new maps, Waldseemuller's Tabula Terra Nova is the first printed map to show part of America. The atlas features 46 black and white double-page maps and a map of Lorraine that appears in full-color. It includes an in-depth bibliographical note by R.A. Skelton. Part of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Series of Atlases in Facsimile Second Series - Volume II. Hardbound in tan cloth with gilt insignia on the front cover and a dust jacket. 374 pp.

References:

Condition: A

Contents tight. Covers very good with very minor shelf wear and faint sunning. Dust jacket has light wear and tear.