Description

Copper engraving, mm 350x490, original colour. Paper oxidation, some spots mainly in margins, wavy paper.<BR>Beautiful map of Persia from "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum", the first modern atlas of the world. It draws particularly on a map of Asia Minor by Giacomo Gastaldi from 1564, as well as Ortelius' earlier map of Asia, dated 1567.<BR>The map shows the Persian Gulf and the eastern portion of the Arabian Peninsula. Persia is in the middle of the maps. To the east is a bit of the modern Afghanistan and Pakistan here named as parts of Tartary and India. <BR>The Caspian Sea features prominently, yet it is shown horizontally and indefinitely. Within the body of water is a block of text. <BR>It was printed in three states, although the changes between states was minimal, and appeared in atlases from 1570 until the mid-seventeenth century. <BR>Van Den Broecke 167; Cyrus Alai, General Maps of Persia. 1477-1925 (2005)