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

Reference
BG-13522-2
Region
Asia
Category
Antique Map
Sheet size
40.5 x 50.8 cm (15.9 x 20.0 in)
Condition
Fair
Availability
Available
Price
EUR 580

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.

Where this sits in the catalogue

Other sheets of Asia


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