Antiquarian Auctions

Auction #114 begins on 11 Apr 2024

Laurent Fries

Tabu Nova Partis Aphri

Published: Melchior & Gaspar Treschel, Lyons, 1535

Edition: 3rd state

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The map was printed from a woodblock and was one of the first printed maps of Southern Africa reasonably available to collectors.  

  The map is the Laurent Fries reduction of the map by Martin Waldseemüller, a German priest and cartographer who contributed to 16th century editions of Ptolemy’s Geographia.  The map was printed from a woodblock; the title and scrollwork above the map make this the 1535 publication of the Geographia by Melchior & Gaspar Treschel in Lyons (there are four states of the map, 1522, 1531, 1535 & 1541). 

  This map is considered to be “one of the most important maps in the Ptolemy ….; the coastal detail on the map indicates that the map was “evidently based on the surveys undertaken during the first two voyages of Vasco de Gama”,

  The map now has three kings on their thrones, an elephant and two serpents next to a sugar loaf mountain, while the King of Portugal rides a bridled sea monster on the Mare Prassodum, holding the banner of Portugal in his right hand and the sceptre in his left.  Mountains have been added and rivers appear south of the Mountains of the Moon.”  (Norwich)The Latin text near the equator states that "this part of ancient Africa remains unknown".  Above this text are the Mountains of the Moon (still so named today,, AKA the Rwenzori Mountains), from which the Nile was thought, at that time, to arise . 

  Near Madagascar in the Mare Prassodum (old name for the Indian Ocean) is the King of Portugal.  In the top right is a depiction of Prester John, a mythical, benign Christian ruler who was thought to live in one of the three "Indias"; when the European explorers couldn't find him in the other two, they conclude he must live on "Æthiopia".  There are two other images of Prester John.   

  The map is uncoloured, as issued. There has been professional repair outside the neatline to small worm tracks at the area of loss where the 2 pages of the map are joined at the top and at the bottom join. The page has been stabilised by reversible backing with archival tissue paper. 

  This map is an essential element of any collection of historical maps of Africa.  Dimensions:  

  References: Norwich’s Maps of Africa #105; Ptolemy in Map Forum

  • Overall Condition: Very good
  • Size: 42.5cm X 30.5 cm
  • Sold By: Roger Stewart Antiquarian
  • Contact Person: Dr. Roger Stewart
  • Country: South Africa
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Telephone: +27836541081
  • Preferred Payment Methods: LOCAL: EFT; INTERNATIONAL: PAYPAL (add 5%) or Bank Transfer; no credit cards
  • Trade Associations: IMCOS


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