(Plate : 190x260mm – 7 ½ x 10 ¼’’) “TABVLA EVROPAE II” Claudius Ptolemy. Venice: Giordano Ziletti, 1574. Original copper-plate engraving for Giralamo Ruscelli’s edition of Ptolemy’s Geographica. (Phillips #380). Condition remark: filled wormholes along center fold. (Plate : 190x260mm – 7 ½ x 10 ¼’’)
This scarce map of the Iberian Peninsula is drawn on a revised conical projection - set in a trapezoidal frame. Ptolemy collected his data around 160 A.D. Ancient climates and parallels are inserted outside the east borders.
The map is divided into three provinces: Hispania (Aragon), Lusitania (Portugal) and Betica (Granada). Topographical features are found throughout the map with major towns, cities, waterways and mountains identified.
The Strait of Gilbraltar (formerly known as "fretumn herculeum" or Pillars of Hercules) is marked with a large column. Also of interest is the curious set of rivers crossing the peninsula from east to west and flowing into the Ocean. The Iber River suggests a continuous water course from the Mediterranean to Atlantic.
Presented in an archival 13 x 16'' mat
