63) Tabula Asiae XII (Taprobana)
By: Girolamo Ruscelli,
Date: 1599 (Published) Venice
Dimensions: 6.89 x 9.45 inches (17.5 cm x 24 cm)
This antique map, while small is powerful in its simplicity. The text is in Latin and Italian. The sea is indicated by stippling. A small spouting sea monster is in the lower left quadrant. There is an inset on the left with a pictorial vignette of an elephant standing in front of a tall tree. Underneath is text explaining that the Taprobana of Ptolemy is the modern island of Sumatra, a source of taller and better elephants than anywhere else, as well as being the homeland of superior pepper. On the verso is text in Italian.
Condition: Archival repairs to vertical center fold as well as a few bookworm holes at very edge of lower right margin corner.
Inventory #19238
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