Tab. I. Asiæ (Asia Minor) - Mercator 1578

Title: Tab. I. Asiæ: in qua Galatia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Bithynia, Asia Minor, Pamphylia, Lycia, ac Cilicia
Cartographer: Gerardus Mercator (1512–1594), after Claudius Ptolemy
Published: Cologne, 1578 (First Edition)
Technique: Copperplate engraving with professional hand-coloring

Description: A stunning 16th-century map of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), including the ancient regions of Cappadocia, Galatia, and Bithynia. This map is a cornerstone of Renaissance geography, representing the collaboration between the ancient wisdom of Ptolemy and the technical mastery of Gerardus Mercator.

Unlike Mercator's modern maps, this "Tabula I" was designed to show the world as the Romans and Greeks knew it, featuring ancient cities, mountain ranges like the Taurus, and the surrounding seas (Pontus Euxinus and Mare Mediterraneum).

Key Features:

• Mercator’s Hand: The engraving is exceptionally fine, showcasing the elegant italic lettering for which Mercator was famous.

• Renaissance Cartouche: Features a classic architectural cartouche in the lower right, typical of the late 16th-century Mannerist style.

• Historical Accuracy: This plate remained the definitive "Ptolemaic" map of Asia Minor for over a century, being reprinted in several subsequent editions.