1697 Scythia et Tartaria Asiatica
DESCRIPTION
This engraved map "Scythia et Tartaria Asiatica" was issued in 1697 in an edition of Introductionis in Universum Geographicum, the influential geographic compendium compiled by Philipp Cluver. Intended for academic use, Cluver’s atlas synthesized earlier cartographic authorities, drawing heavily upon the Mercator Hondius tradition while presenting the material in a clear and accessible format suited to late seventeenth century scholarship.
The map depicts the vast expanse of Central Asia, extending from the Caspian Sea eastward across Tartary toward northern China and the fringes of the Pacific. Regions are labeled Scythia, Tartaria, and Cathay, reflecting the persistence of classical and medieval geographic terminology in European understanding of Asia. Mountain ranges form dramatic interior barriers, rivers stretch across the steppe, and large inland bodies of water including the Aral Sea are prominently delineated. The geography blends inherited Renaissance models with the gradual accumulation of travel accounts, resulting in a landscape that is both learned and speculative.
Decorative elements are restrained yet elegant, with a finely engraved title cartouche that anchors the composition without overwhelming it. The engraving retains the crisp line work characteristic of late seventeenth century atlas production, balancing legibility with ornamental embellishments.
Philipp Cluver was a pioneering early seventeenth century geographer often regarded as one of the founders of historical geography. Educated in Leiden and influenced by classical scholarship as well as contemporary cartography, Cluver sought to reconcile ancient geographic texts with modern discoveries. His most influential work, Introductionis in Universum Geographicum, first published in 1624 and reissued many times thereafter, became one of the standard geographic textbooks of Europe for decades. The book combined concise descriptive geography with engraved maps derived from leading cartographic traditions, particularly Mercator and Hondius, and was widely used in universities and learned circles well into the late seventeenth century.
CONDITION
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622