153. Ptolemaeus, Claudius: (World map)

Rome, 1507/1508.
Scarce, delicate, copperplate world map. First appeared on 10 October, 1478, in the third printed – Roman – edition of Ptolemy’s „Cosmographia” edited by Arnold Buckinck. One of the essential works of Renaissance cartography. The cone projection representation was based on Nicolaus Germanus’ manuscripts. Konrad Sweynheim, the engraver, worked in Gutenberg’s workshop around 1460. In 1464, he founded the first printing house in Italy (in Subiaco), with Arnold Pannart. Later developed a new technique: punch lettering. Four editions (1478, 1490, 1507 and 1508) of the map are known from the same plate, which makes identification difficult. A full sheet of paper was used for printing, but they worked with two copperplates and joined the parts later. For this reason, there are plates with watermarks on both sides, but it is also possible that only one of them has it or there is no watermark at all (as in the case of our item). The exact time of publication of our copy has not been established. However, based on Thomas Suarez’s research, it can be definitely stated that it is one of the third or fourth printed by Bernardino Vitali and edited by Marco Beneventano. The map field illustrates the known Ptolemaic world. It stretches from the “Fortu­na­tae insulae” (the name presumably covers the Azores or the Canary Is­lands) to China in the west-east di­rection, and the British Isles border it to the north and Ethiopia to the south. A striking oddity is the presentation of the Indian Ocean as an inland sea.
Since there are 64 known pieces of Ruysch’s modern map (which were published together with the Ptolemaic world map) in Vitalibus’ editions, 16 of the same item can be found in public collections according to reference books, it can be assumed that a similar number of copies of this work has survived, therefore, this page our item is among the greatest rarities.
Dimensions: 395 x 555 mm.
Professionally restored at centerfold.
Shirley: 4.; Bifolco – Ronca: Appen­dice D 1.
 
Starting price: 5,800,000 HUF