180. Waldseemüller, Martin: (Map of the Ancient World)

Strasbourg, 1513/1520.
An extraordinarily rare Ptolemaic woodcut world map depicting the ancient world on a traditional, modified conical projection, surrounded by twelve wind-heads. Martin Waldseemüller’s Strasbourg Geographiae opus novissima is widely regarded as the most significant edition of Ptolemy’s Geography and is often described as the first modern atlas. In addition to the twenty-seven Ptolemaic maps, Waldseemüller added twenty further plates labelled “modern”. These were mainly his own creations, made during his time as professor of cosmography at the University of Saint-Dié. While he drew the maps, his friend and co-author, Matthias Ringmann prepared a new Latin translation of the Greek original and also wrote the preface. The continental outlines follow the Ptolemaic model, although the engraver omitted the southern landmass once believed to connect Africa with Asia. With its decorative border, the map represents a rare blend of science, history, and art: the cartographic depiction of the ancient world’s knowledge and the finely crafted cherubic ornamentation harmoniously complement each other.
Dimensions: 440 × 580 (450 × 615) mm. Fine, clear copy, the upper margin trimmed up to the image.
Shirley: 34.
 
Starting price: 6 000 000,-