“PTOLEMAEI TYPUS.” Claudius Ptolemy. Venice: Giovanni Magini, c. 1596. Verso: Latin. Engraved by Girolamo Porro. Original copper-plate engraving. (Reference: Shirley #193; Goss: The Mapmaker’s Art, p. 127). (Paper: 163 x 220mm – 6 ½ x 8 5/8’’ Image: 135 x 175mm – 5 ¼ x 6 7/8’’)
This beautifully engraved 16th century map is based on Ptolemy’s Geographia and drawn on a revised conical projection for the 1596 edition edited by the distinguished Italian geographer Giovanni Magini. As proved by the title page on back (seen in the final scan), this is the first edition of the map. This “first edition of 1596 was printed with Latin text for the heirs of Giovanni Galignani.” (Shirley, p. 213).
The map shows Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, divided according to ancient geography. The India Ocean is shown as a large land-bound Sea, with the coast of Asia east of the Indian subcontinent curving around to rejoin the east coast of Africa south of the Horn. To each side of the map, the globe is divided into climatic zones according to the prevailing opinions of the classical philosophers.
A strong impression, In excellent fresh condition.
Presented in an archival 11 x 14'' mat
