Antiquarian Maps

Claudius Ptolemy of Alexandria (87-150 AD) New Map of the Sub-continent of India: Place names include the Indian Ocean, The Bay of Bengala, The Island of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Also indicated are the mouths of the Indus and Ganges rivers. The city referenced as "Var." - probably Varanesi - seems to be well-placed on the Ganges. On the Verso, description in Latin. The earliest surviving manuscript of Ptolemy's Geographia is of the 12th or 13th century. Brought to Italy and translated into Latin by Jacopo Angelo in 1406, the first printed edition, with no maps, appeared in 1475. The first edition with maps was printed in Bologna, 1477. An important first German edition, woodcuts with 5 new maps added was printed in Ulm, 1482. Ptolemy has been called the father of geography.

Ptolemy, Circa 1562 Click each image for larger view.