The Benevento Collection: Important Maps & Atlases

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Lot 1
  • 1

Ptolemaeus, Claudius.

Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
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Description

  • La Geografia... con alcuni comenti & aggiunte fattevi da Sebastiano Munstero... con le tavole... nuove aggiuntevi di Meser Jacopo Gastaldo... ridotta in volgare italiano da M. Pietro Andrea Mattioli. Venice: Giovanni Baptista Pedrezano for Nicolo Bascarini, 1548 (October 1547)
  • paper
8vo (165 x 110mm.), title within woodcut side borders, woodcut portrait of Ptolemy, 26 maps of the ancient world and 34 of the modern world, together 60 double-page maps engraved by Giacomo Gastaldi, numerous woodcut diagrams in the text, woodcut device on register at end, contemporary limp vellum

Literature

Nordenskiöld Collection 2, 214; Phillips, Atlases 369; Sabin 66502; Shirley, British Library T.PTOL-9a

Condition

The condition of this book is as described in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

First complete edition in Italian, translated by Pietro Andrea Mattioli from Sebastian Münster's edition of 1540.

"The very first atlas of the New World" (Nordenskiöld).

The maps in this edition were designed by Giacomo Gastaldi. Most of the thirty-four maps of the modern world are entirely new, including seven relating to the Americas and the first series of printed maps of the New World. Amongst these is Nueva Hispania tabula nova, showing the Mississippi and Florida area, the first separate printed map of the region, and the map of New England is "the first produced of the east coast" (Burden).

It also includes the first separate map devoted to Arabia and the first reference to Singapore on a printed map.

This small-format edition of Ptolemy was the most comprehensive world atlas before the publication of Ortelius's Theatrum in 1570.