Beschreibung:

PTOLEMY (fl. 2nd century). La Geografia di Claudio Tolomeo Alessandrino. Translated and edited by Girolamo Ruscelli Venice: Giordano Ziletti, 1573[-74]. Third Ruscelli edition of Ptolemy, containing a new map of Rome. The Renaissance rediscovery of the Greek text of Ptolemy’s Geography —the most comprehensive atlas of the ancient world, written in second century Alexandria—captured the imagination of thinkers across disciplines. Although none of the original maps survived antiquity, Renaissance cartographers rose to the challenge of re-illustrating the famous treatise. Here the maps are mostly after those of Giacomo Gastaldi, originally from the 1548 Italian edition printed by Bascarini, and include 27 ‘ancient’ maps and 38 ‘modern’ maps. This is the third edition translated and edited by Girolamo Ruscelli the founder the first European scientific society: the Accademia Segreta in Naples. Adams P-2236; Karrow 30/C.1; Sabin 66505; Tooley, p. 7. Quarto (229 x 163mm). 65 engraved maps mounted on stubs, one with red partial coloring; woodcut illustrations and diagrams throughout, including two portraits of Ptolemy (some leaves browned, some dampstaining and light soiling). Early limp vellum with remains of ties, yapp edges, title in ink on spine (corner torn, bottom hinge cracked, spine torn over raised bands). Provenance : sparse early marginalia – remains of oval paper inventory label with blue border on spine.