1584 Asia III Tab.
By: Gerard Mercator
Date: 1584 (circa) Cologne
Dimensions: 18.25 x 13.5 inches (46.35 x 34.3 cm)
This is an early and scarce map of present day Israel, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Cyprus showing the area as it was known during the Roman Imperial Period. Only the first (1578) and second (1584) editions of the atlas were published during Gerard Mercator’s lifetime. The map was based on geographic data and instructions left by Claudius Ptolemy (90 – 168 AD) of Alexandria, Egypt.
Gerard Mercator is most popularly known for being the first to use the word “atlas” when referring to a group of maps as well his creation of the Mercator projection where line of latitude and longitude are constrained to a grid like format. However he did spend much of his life working on renditions to Ptolemaic maps such as this one.
The map denotes many important cities and places of biblical importance such as Jerusalem, Petra, Damascus, and Babylon. Another interesting feature worth noting of this example is the inclusion of manuscript notations in a neat, early hand providing alternative place names, some of which are accompanied by biblical citations.
Condition: Map is in B+ condition with some mend to the margin, bottom centerfold is reinforces, and there are a few professionally filled wormholes. Lovely hand coloring throughout.
Inventory #18443
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