Ptolemaei Typus

This fascinating Ruscelli map of the eastern hemisphere shows the world as described by Claudius Ptolemy in his original Geographia, dating to the second century CE. The Geographia, one of Ptolemy’s most important works, is a compilation of geographical coordinates of the part of the world that was known in Roman times. He was known to have used for reference material the works of Marinos of Tyre, a Hellenized Phoenician mathematician, geographer and cartographer. Ptolemy lived in Alexandria, with direct access to its great library, and thus had at his fingertips the most pertinent knowledge and findings of his own time as well as of more ancient times, including the renowned astronomical works of Babylon from the ancient Persian Empire.

The Mediterranean is well depicted though exaggerated in length. The Aegean Sea, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, and the Caspian are all depicted, as is the long stretch of water ultimately connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean.

The Nile is shown to originate in the Mountains of the Moon. The Red Sea, the Arabian Peninsula, the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean are all clearly depicted, but the Indian Ocean is land bound, with a long southern coastline which joins eastern Africa to southeast Asia. The Ganges River is shown but the Indian subcontinent, while hinted at is not depicted.

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, in good condition.