Price: £450.00

• Date: (1578) 1698
• Condition: AA
• Colour: Uncoloured.
• Size: 16 x 13.25 inches (42 x 34 cm)

Title: 'Tab I Europae, Continens Albion, Britanniam et Hiberniam'. From Ptolemy's atlas Tabulae geographicae Orbis Terrarum Veteribus cogniti. MDCXCVIII

Published in Utrecht by Franciscus Halma and Guiljelmus van der Water and in Franeker by Leonardus Strick in 1698.

This rare map of the British Isles shows an early view of the cartographer's developing shape of the island. Albion takes a sharp right angle turn at Britannia (Southern Scotland), which is depicted as lying East to West. Hibernia lies in the Eastern Ocean (Atlantic). Britain is separated from France by the "British Ocean" and from Germany by the "German Ocean". Londinium is the capital.

Originally published by Mercator in his 1578 edition, this map is from an 1698 edition and features changes from the original atlas as cartouches and some place names have been reengraved. The ornamental border of the map first appeared in this edition. This edition of Ptolemy's maps feature beautiful cartouches, fabulous depictions of ficticious sea monsters and sailing ships.

The map is in excellent condition with an original crack from the plate in the top center. A very fine example. Blank on verso and folded as issued.