63) Tabula Asiae XII (Taprobana)
DESCRIPTION
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.
1200 W. 35th Street #425 Chicago, IL 60609 | P: (312) 496 - 3622