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 woodblock Ptolemaic map illustrates ancient Sarmatia located northeast of the Black Sea. Mountain ranges dominate the map, and three gates are shown in the Caucasus Mountains, which in ancient times used to be a caravan route to the ancient Orient. The Alexandri Column is shown in present day Georgia. Latin text and ornate woodblock illustrations on verso.

References: Mickwitz & Miekkavaara #209-34.

Condition: B+

A nice impression on a bright sheet with one small rust spot in the image, light toning along the centerfold, and archival repairs to a few separations along the centerfold and short tears along the edges of the sheet. Remnants of hinge tape on verso.