Antique Map-TUNESIA-MALTA-LYBIA-AFRICA-Ptolemy-Mercator-1698

Description

Engraving on hand laid paper. on paper.

Size in cm: The overall size is ca. 53 x 44 cm. The image size is ca. 45.5 x 33.5 cm. Size in inch: The overall size is ca. 20.9 x 17.3 inch. The image size is ca. 17.9 x 13.2 inch.

Antique print, titled: ‘Tab. II. Africae, Complectens Africam (…).’ – A beautiful Ptolemaic map covering ancient Tunesia with Malta and parts of Lybia. Embellished with sea monsters, wild animals and a decorative, scrollwork cartouche. From the 1698 ed. of Mercator’s Ptolemy Atlas: ‘Claudii Ptolemaei Tabulae Geographicae Orbis Terrarum Veteribus Cogniti.’, published by Francois Halma & Willem van den Water, Utrecht & Leonard Strick, Franeker. This Atlas was first published in 1578 and re-published in 1584, 1605, 1618/1619, 1695, 1698, 1704 and 1730. For the 1798 ed. the plates were reworked wit new cartouches and a new title engraving. Of all the editions of Ptolemy the Mercator editions are considered the finest in execution. It was Mercator’s intention to produce an Atlas of the classical world, not a current atlas, made as a companion to his modern atlas. State: Revised 2nd state.Artists and Engravers: Made by ‘G. Mercator’ after ‘Ptolemy’. Gerard Mercator (Kremer) was born in Rupelmonde in Flanders and studied in Louvain. He has drawn his first map in 1537 and became a cartographer and globe maker. In 1552 he moved to Duisburg, Germany where he published his famous 18-sheet world map in 1569 with his own new projection, today called Mercator projection. Later he decided to publish a new edition of Ptolemy’s Geographia. Followed by his major work, a 3 volume collection of maps to which the word “Atlas” was applied the first time. The first volume was published 1585, followed by the second in 1589 and the third one after his death in 1595 by his son Rumold. A second edition of all three parts was published 1602. 1604 Jodocus Hondius acquired the plates and published several edition together with his sons Jodocus II and Henricus until 1633. More editions followed until 1666 by Janssonius who was in partnership with Henricus. Some of the plated where also used in W.J. Blaeu in 1630.

Condition: Very good, given age. Original middle fold as issued. Some light creasing. 2 Small worm holes in top margin. Small tear in right margin. General age-related toning and/or occasional minor defects from handling. Please study scan carefully.

Keywords: ANTIQUE MAP-TUNESIA-MALTA-LYBIA-AFRICA-PTOLEMY-MERCATOR

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