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A map based upon the work of Claudius Ptolemy, showing ancient Persia as understood to the ancients. In the Second Century A.D. Ptolemy was the librarian at Alexandria, the greatest center of learning in the Classical world. Ptolemy's famous Geographia was the first atlas of the world, consisting of a compilation of all known geographic information. Rediscovered in the middle ages, the Geographia had a huge impact on the awaking western European mind. Ptolemy's structure for making maps, with longitude and latitude, and his usual northern orientation for the maps, became the standard from then to the present. Such was the impact of Ptolemy's work that even in the sixteenth century, when Ptolemy's geographic conceptions were known to be wrong, maps based on these conceptions were issued time and again. This map from Sebastian Munster's edition of the Geographia is amongst the most attractive of the issues, especially with the decorative woodcut design on the verso, attributed to Hans Holbein. $300
Claudius Ptolemy. "Tabula Asiae V." [Persia] Venice: Vincenzo Valgrisi, 1561. 7 3/8 x 10 1/4 (plate mark). Engraving. Full margins. Very good condition.
Another example of the Ptolemaic map of Persia as understood to the ancients. This was issued in an excellent Italian edition of Ptolemy's Geographia, which included both Ptolemaic and modern maps of the regions of the world. The good detail of this map is a result of the information gleaned from the many traders criss-crossing this region during Ptolemy's day. $150
Girolamo Ruscelli. "Persia Nuova Tabula." Venice: Giordano Ziletti, [1561]-1574. 7 x 9 3/4. Engraving. Very good condition.
An impressive map of Persia early in the reign of Shah Abbas I (1571-1629). The Safavid dynasty had unified the Iranian plateau and brought the region back to a period of influence and wealth. It reached its height under Shah Abbas I, who developed contacts with Europe and made his capital, Isfahan, into one of the great cities of the world. Many nations had envoys in Abbas' court and foreign trade prospered under his reign, so a map of Persia would have been of great interest to Europeans when this map was issued. It shows a basic outline of the rivers, lakes and mountains of Persia and the surrounding lands, and also lists the major settlements throughout the region. $185
Girolamo Porro after Giovanni Magini. "Tabula Asiae V." [Persia] From Geographiae Universaetum Tum Veteris Tum Novae. Cologne: Peter Keschedt, 1597. 5 1/2 x 7. Engraving. Very good condition.
From a strongly engraved map from Magini's edition of Ptolemy's Geography. The map was drawn by Porro, probably under the direction of Magini. A number of the maps from this work were based on Ptolemy's conceptions from the second century, and these are generally recognizable by the trapezoidal border. This is the Ptolemaic map showing the region of present-day Iraq and Iran. While somewhat distorted, the information is surprisingly good for towns and rivers, mostly due to information gathered from those plying the trade routes that passed through these lands. $90
Frederick DeWit. "Nova Persiae, Armeniae Natoliae et Arabiae." Amsterdam: F. de Wit, ca. 1680. 18 1/2 x 21 1/2. Engraving. Original hand color. Soft creases by centerfold. Very good condition.
A colorful seventeenth century map of Persia, Arabia, Armenia and Anatolia. The map was drawn by Dutch cartographer, Frederick de Wit, who followed in the footsteps of the earlier Dutch cartographic publishers Jansson and Blaeu. Like them, de Wit issued maps known for their beautiful engraving and hand coloring. of which this is a fine example. The map shows Persia near the height of the power of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1737). The Safavids came out of Azerbaijan and under Shah Ismail conquered a vast kingdom extending from Baghdad to Herat (Afghanistan). Persia became one of the strongest Asia nations and established many contacts-political, economic, and cultural-with the emerging European nation-states. Also depicted is Arabia, Anatolia, and unusually for a particular focus, Armenia. Typically of de Wit maps, there is a colorful and interesting title cartouche with exotic figures and animals, and ships related to the important trade role of Persia. A geography with measuring devices graces the scale of miles cartouche. Lovely and historically of considerable interest. $1,200
Willem Blaeu. "Persia Sive Sophorum Regnum." Amsterdam: R. & J. Ottens, 1695. 14 7/8 x 19 5/8. Engraving. Original outline color. Very good condition.
A later printing of Willem Blaeu's excellent map, showing Persia near the height of the power of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1737). The Safavids came out of Azerbaijan and under Shah Ismail conquered a vast kingdom extending from Baghdad to Herat (Afghanistan). Persia became one of the strongest Asia nations and established many contacts-political, economic, and cultural-with the emerging European nation-states. Thus the interest by Europeans in this exotic land, a land shown with great detail and care by Willem Blaeu. The maps issued by the Blaeu firm are known for their fine craftsmanship and design, and have been called "the highest expression of Dutch cartographical art." This map was originally issued by the Blaeu firm and is a fine example of its work. This particular example was reissued by another Dutch firm near the end of the seventeenth century. Besides it excellent geographical portrayal, the map has the typical Blaeu flourishes of a dedicatory cartouche and a charming title cartouche crowned by three figures in elaborate Persian dress. $750
Herman Moll. "Arabia, Agreeable to Modern History." From Atlas Manuale- A New Set of Maps of All Parts of Earth. London: A & J. Churchill and T. Childe, 1709. 7 7/8 x 9 3/4. Engraving by H. Moll. Full margins. Very good condition.
A map of Arabia and its surrounding areas from the foremost map publisher in England in the early eigtheenth century. Herman Moll was a Dutch émigré to England sometime after 1680, and he soon established his own business in London. Moll became England's most prominent map publisher and engraver, his prolific output covered a wide range from loose maps to atlases. His work was highly regarded and often copied due to the quality of detail found in his maps. This map, from one of his atlases, is interesting for the amount of detail packed into the small size. A nice eighteenth century cartographic document. $225
Georg Matthäus and Albrecht Carl Seutter. "Magni Turcarum Dominatoris Imperium . . ." From Atlas Minor. Augsburg: G.M. Seutter, 1744. Ca. 8 x 10. Engraving by T.C. Lotter. Full original color, with uncolored cartouche as issued.
One of a series of beautiful maps of all parts of the world. Georg Matthäus Seutter was one of the most important of the German cartographers, being appointed as the Geographer to the Imperial Court. His son, Albrecht Carl, joined Matthäus and eventually inherited the business. The maps from this atlas were drawn by the two Seutters and were engraved by Tobias C. Lotter, who later took over the business from Albrecht. These maps, typically of German output, are highly detailed and engraved with a bold hand. Equally strong is the original hand color in the body of the map. The cartouches were left uncolored in order to emphasize the elaborately detailed illustrations for which German maps are especially prized. These are some of the most decorative and interesting maps of the mid-eighteenth century. $350
Rigobert Bonne. “Carte de L’Arabie qui se divise en Arabie Pétrée, Deserte et Heureuse.” From Atlas Moderne ou Collection de Cartes sur toutes les parties du Globe Terrestre. Paris: Jean Lattré & Delalain, 1771. Engraving. 12 x 18. Original hand color. Excellent condition.
Rigobert Bonne (1727-1795) produced a large number of atlases and charts, and his maps also appeared in Lattré & Delalain’s Atlas Moderne. Maps from this atlas used information compiled from 1762 until 1775. This map depicts a very accurate image of Arabia near the end of the eighteenth century. Settlements, especially near the coast, are noted, and a rough indication of mountain ranges is given. A finely etched title cartouche graces the top right corner, which combined with the lovely pastel color makes this a charming as well as interesting map. $350
Thomas Kitchen. "New Map of Persia Divided into it s Provinces from the lastest Authorities By T. Kitchin Geogr. Hydropgraher to his Majesty." From George H. Millar's New and Universal System of Geography. London: A. Hogg, 1782. 15 x 13 1/2. Engraving. Some light stains at edges; else very good condition.
A detailed map of Persia by one of the leading English cartographers of the late eighteenth century. Beginning about 1750, the British began to establish themselves as the leading world power, and this is partly reflected in the simultaneous rise to cartographic dominance. Thomas Kitchen, (1717-1784) was one of the most prolific and popular cartographers in the hey-day of British mapmaking, and his maps are noted for their clean engraving and excellent detail. This map encompasses today's Iran and Iraq, and extends as far north as the northern end of the Caspian Scene. Much detail of rivers, towns, trails, and the like is included. Political divisions are named and deserts noted. Decorating the title cartouche in the upper right corner is a Persian figure and various rococo decorations. This map is typical of Kitchin's work, and gives us a good picture of the European understanding of Persia near the end of the eighteenth century. $175
Maps by John Cary
London: J. Cary. Ca. 18 x 20 1/4. Engravings. Full original hand color. Fine condition.
Detailed maps of Persia and Arabia and the Red Sea. These were produced by London map-maker John Cary and issued a few years before Mohammed Ali became governor of Egypt. This was a period of intense British interest in the region, mostly as the result of their conflict with France. It is thus not surprising that Cary’s maps are very detailed, for he was one of the leading British cartographers of the time.
Another series of detailed maps by John Cary. Though on a smaller scale, the detail is just as abundant as Cary's earlier edition. By 1816 (the year of this map's publication), many of the boundaries and territories had changed as is indicated by the contrasting pastel coloring. Rivers, towns, and other topographical information, are also clearly presented with very crisp engravings, giving an almost three-dimensional appearance.
Perhaps the greatest commercial cartographer of the early twentieth century was Aaron Arrowsmith. His maps were the "gold standard" of the period and were used by many publishers. This map of Arabia came from a quarto-sized atlas jointly published in Edinburgh and London in 1817. It shows Arrowsmith's careful work and is beautifully engraved and colored. $175
John Cary. "A New Map of Arabia, Including Egypt, Abyssinia, the Red Sea &c.&c., from the latest authorities." London: J. Cary, 1825. 18 x 20 1/4. Engraving. Full original hand color. Very good condition.
A later edition of John Cary's excellent map of Saudi Arabia, showing Arabia at a tumultuous period in its history. Beginning in the eighteenth century under Muhammad ibn Saud, and continuing into the early nineteenth, the Wahhabis Saud family began to establish their control in the central part of the peninsula. When they began to expand their control in the Hijaz, along the Red Sea, this brought them into conflict with Muhamad Ali, ruler of Egypt. The Wahhabis were defeated and retreated to Riyadh, which became their capital just before this map was issued. It wasn't until a century later that the Saud family was able to take control of what came to be known as Saudi Arabia. The map showing settlements, topography, ancient sites, "roads" and political details as known at the time. Information in Arabia itself consists mostly of the mountains in the west and east, towns and trade routes along the coasts and across the "Nedsjed el Ared," [the Najd] while the southeastern region is blank, containing only the legend "Great Desert between Mecca and Oman." $400
Sidney Hall. "Persia." London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown & Green, 1828. 16 1/8 x 19 3/4. Engraving. Original outline color. Very good condition.
A handsome and very detailed map of Persia by British cartographer Sidney Hall. Though other countries, including the United States, had by then developed cartographic industries of considerable quality, British map publishers were still the best in the world in the 1820s. This map shows why, with clear and precise engraving depicting copious up-to-date information. This map is a development of the Cary map of 1801, with more and newer information and brighter hand color. $375
G. Long, M.A. "The Eastern Part of the Ancient Persian Empire." London: SDUK, 1831. 11 1/2 x 14 1/8. Engraving by J. & C. Walker. Original outline hand-coloring. Stain in lower left corner. Otherwise, very good condition.
A detailed and precisely drawn map of Ancient Persia issued by the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (SDUK). This wonderful English enterprise was devoted to the spreading of up-to-date information and the enhancing of understanding. The Society's maps are known for their accuracy. This map, drawn by G. Long, Professor of Greek at London University, is typical of their output. It is a precise cartographic document that is a splendid example of the best scientific work of the era. $50
J. Dower. "Persia and Arabia." From A New General Atlas of the World. London: Henry Teesdale & Co., 1842. 13 3/8 x 16 1/2. Engraving. Original outline color. Very good condition.
A handsome map of the Middle East by British publisher, Henry Teesdale. This map is typical of British mapmaking during the Victorian age. John Dower's concise engraving presents the standard topographical information with elegance and clarity. $165
S. Augustus Mitchell. "Persia & Arabia &c." From New General Atlas. Philadelphia: S. Augustus Mitchell, 1847. 12 1/4 x 15. Lithograph transfer from engraved plate. Original hand color. Very good condition.
A beautifully crafted map of the Middle East from the mid-nineteenth century. Published by one of the leading U.S. cartographic firms of the period, it is an excellent example of American mapping at an important time in the development of the area. No roads are shown, but details of towns and topography is excellent. The political divisions in Persia are shown with contrasting pastel shades, and the country extends from Azerbaijan in the northwest to the Indus River in the east. $85
John Dower. "Iran or Persia." London: Orr & Co, ca. 1848. 8 1/4 x 10. Engraving by J. Dower. Original outline color. Very good condition.
Another detailed map by the English engraver John Dower. Titled as both Persia and the traditional name, Iran, this lovely little map also has an sea level table chart along the bottom of the image. $75
L.G. Ehrenberg & E. Rüppell. "Arabia und dan Nil-Land." Gotha, Germany: Justus Perthes, 1855. Separately issued, folding map: dissected into 18 sections and mounted on linen. Engraving by Adolph Mædel. Original outline color. With uniform discoloration from old glue. Otherwise, very good condition. With original printed label.
This is another separately issued folding map, a typically high-detailed German document showing Arabia and northeastern Africa from Egypt to Bab-el-Mandeb. The information along the Nile as far south as Ethiopia is excellent. Detail is also extensive for Arabia, especially along the coasts but including some areas of the interior. AN inset map shows details of the region around Mecca. Roads and caravan tracks are shown throughout the region, both in Africa and Arabia, and these indicate the oasis stops along the way. Finely etched decorations surround the title cartouche. This is a most impressive map of a relatively unknown region. $400
"Map of Persia, Arabia, Turkey in Asia, Afghanistan, Beloochistan." From Mitchell's New General Atlas. Philadelphia: S. Augustus Mitchell, Jr., 1872. 11 3/4 x 9 1/4. Lithograph. Original hand-coloring. Very good condition.
Though the center of American publishing moved from Philadelphia to New York around the middle of the nineteenth century, S. Augustus Mitchell's firm, run by his son of the same name, continued to issue excellent and popular maps and atlases. This image, with its typical Mitchell decorative border, is a good example of the output of the firm. Interestingly, only one road runs through Persia (from the coast to Teheran). The political divisions within the region are also indicated with bright outline and body color. Also included is a detailed insert of the Holyland. This map depicts as current topographical information as was available at the time. $55
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