Lot 1437

Bertius's Ptolemy, pub. 1618 - Map of India (with Elephants & Camels)

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Bertius's Ptolemy, pub. 1618 - Map of India (with Elephants & Camels)

Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000

Starting Bid: $200

(0 Bids)

by Trillium Antique Prints & Rare Books
July 4, 2026 9:00 AM CDT
Live Auction
115 Hampsted Lane
Franklin, TN, US 37069

This handsome map is from Petrus Bertius's Theatri Geographiae Veteris Tomus Prior in quo Cl. Ptol. Alexandrini Geographiae Libri VIII.. This is from the first edition of the work published by Jodocus Hondius in Leiden and Amsterdam between 1618 and 1619.

This work is considered an atlas in the style of Ptolemy (Ptolemaeus)’s Geographia after the maps of Gerard Mercator & Abraham Ortelius.. The work was considered one of the most influential cartographic accounts of the ancient world and served as inspiration for all Renaissance mapmakers. He compiled what was known of the world's geography in the Roman Empire during his time (circa 90-168 AD). Ptolemy was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet. The earliest known manuscripts of Geographia date to 1300 and was first printed in 1477.

Henricus Hondius (1597-1651) & Jodocus Hondius (1593-1629) were Dutch engravers and mapmakers. They learned the trade from their father, Jodocus Hondius, an engraver and geographer. He was involved with the republishing of Mercator's atlas as well. The brothers worked closely together and took over their father's engraving business. He would later start his own shop in 1621 where he would eventually partner with Jan Janssonius and continued publishing Mercator's work where it would eventually be referred to as the Mercator-Hondius-Janssonius atlas.

Petrus Bertius (1565-1629) was a Flemish historian, theologian, geographer, and cartographer. He fled to Amsterdam due to religious persecution becoming librarian and mathematic professor at Leyden University. He authored numerous works with his publication of Ptolemy’s Geographia his most noted. He was appointed the Official Cosmographer to Louis XIII in 1618 and relocated to Paris. His brother-in-laws were noted publishers and cartographers, Jodocus Hondius and Pieter van den Keere.

  • Dimensions: ~ 20 1/2" by 16" (Fold Out)
  • Literature: Theatri Geographiae Veteris Tomus Prior in quo Cl. Ptol. Alexandrini Geographiae Libri VIII
  • Medium: Engraving
  • Circa: 1618-1619
  • Condition: The work is in good to excellent condition overall. There may be some faint offset due to fold out nature of the engraving. There may be a few minor imperfections or faint marks to be expected with age. Please review the image carefully for condition and contact us with any questions.

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