Tabula Asiae XII

Magini's map of Ceylon, or modern Sri Lanka. This map calls the island by its classical name of Taprobana. Of further note is the charming vignette of an elephant on the upper left of the map with a brief description below in Latin which states that elephants were one of the major commodities for which the island was renowned.

This beautiful miniature copper-engraved map of Sri Lanka was first published in Giovanni Magini's 1596 edition of Ptolemy's Geographia. It was drawn and engraved by Girolamo Porro with remarkable skill, while the book's Latin text was written and edited by Magini. This example is from the 1617 Jansson edition. The copper-engraving is sharp and crisp, and the print impression is lovely and dark.

[IC2674]