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Mercator's Ptolemaic map of Taprobana, (Ceylon) Sri Lanka

About the Item

Antique map titled 'Asiae XII Tab'. Mercator's Ptolemaic map of Taprobana. The map shows Ptolemy's erroneous location of the island of Sri Lanka near the equator, with a bit of India shown to the northeast. Includes a pair of sea monsters and a sailing ship. Published circa 1580. Gerard Mercator (1512 - 1594) originally a student of philosophy was one of the most renowned cosmographers and geographers of the 16th century, as well as an accomplished scientific instrument maker. He is most famous for introducing Mercators Projection, a system which allowed navigators to plot the same constant compass bearing on a flat map.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 15.95 in (40.5 cm)Width: 20.01 in (50.8 cm)Depth: 0.02 in (0.5 mm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    c.1580
  • Condition:
    General age-related toning. Original folding line, with split. Shows some creasing and staining. Few tiny holes. Latin text on verso. Please study image carefully.
  • Seller Location:
    Langweer, NL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: BG-13522-21stDibs: LU3054335446882
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