Marmarica Nuova Tavola

Ruscelli map based on the work of Ptolemy and covers a portion of northern Africa from the Arabian Peninsula in the east to Cyrene in the west, an ancient city in northern Africa which was founded as a Dorian colony in the seventh century B.C., in what is now the country of Libya. The map depicts cities, river systems and lakes, mountain ranges, and portions of both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.

At the time this map was first drawn, the region was part of the Ottoman Empire under Suleiman the Magnificent, known to the Ottomans as the Lawgiver, under whose reign Libya fell in 1551. Indeed, much of the northern portion of Africa which is featured here was controlled by the Ottomans for some time. Under Suleiman the Ottomans developed a great naval force which was headed by the famed Barbarossa, who built it to such an extent that there were more ships in the Ottoman fleet than in all the fleets of Western Europe combined. By the mid 16^th century, the Ottomans were the dominant force in much of Europe, the Middle East, northern Africa and in the east of the continent as far south as the Horn of Africa.  

Map taken from Geographia di Claudio Tolomeo edited by Girolamo Ruscelli, published in Venice in several editions between 1561 and 1598. The maps is based on the Geografia by Giacomo Gastaldi (1548), who probably also personally drew these maps, which were engraved by the brothers Livio and Giulio Sanuto.

The peculiarity of these maps is that they are engraved two for plate and subsequently cut; this is why the copper sign only appears on three sides of the map. Ruscelli's text and his maps are considered to be the best modern atlas up to the first version of Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570).

Only their widespread diffusion prevents a sustained evaluation in the antiquarian market. In fact, the work had a first edition in 1561, printed by Vincenzo Valgrisi who also edited the 1562 reprint. There are three editions signed by Giordano Ziletti (two in 1564 and one in 1574), while in 1597 it was published by the Calignani brothers. All these editions contain 64 plates. In 1598 and 1599 the two editions edited by Giuseppe Rosaccio and printed by the heirs of Melchior Sessa came to light. These last two editions include 69 plates; in fact, Rosaccio's map of the planisphere and continents has been added.

Etching and engraving with fine later hand colour, in good condition.