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Auction: 15040 - Antique Maps sale during the International Exhibition
Lot: 170

Maps
Africa
Southern Africa
1561 Africa nuova tavola by Giralamo Ruscelli from Ruscelli’s "La geografia di Claudio Tolomeo"; 11¾ x 8½ inches, hand-coloured.

In his map of southern Africa, the Venetian editor and cartographer Ruscelli removes all symbols and figures and returns to a simple depiction of the geography of the land. The Mountains of the Moon (Monti de Luna) are centrally placed in southern Africa, and the Nile is born from the outflow of three lakes situated at their base. A number of coastal rivers are identified. Madagascar bears its earlier name, Island of San Lorenzo (Isola de S. Lorenzo), given by Diogo Dias, the Portuguese navigator who first landed there in 1500 on the feast day (August 10) of St. Lawrence. The stippled ocean and pimply mountain ranges reflect the Italian copperplate style of engraving of the period. Latin text on verso, page number XXII.

On laid paper, usual reinforced central fold, a few small holes near the centre, some which have been professionally repaired; trivial ageing, mostly confined to the lower margin. A good example of this scarce map. Photo

Estimate
SG$500 to SG$600