Laurenziana Ptolemy

Ptolemaic Geography – Imago – MS Plut. 30.3 – Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (Florence, Italy) — Italy — Between 1466 and 1468
Ptolemy's ancient standard work on the geography of the Old World in the golden garb of humanism: one of the most sumptuous Latin copies of the famous atlas with 30 opulently illuminated maps

Claudius Ptolemy (around 100 – after 160) created his Geographike Hyphegesis around 150 AD
The atlas was translated into Latin at the beginning of the 15th century and became the humanist standard work of geography
With its 30 gold-decorated maps and 120 white vine initials, this codex is one of the most splendid editions

Laurenziana Ptolemy

MS Plut. 30.3 Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (Florence, Italy)

Description

Laurenziana Ptolemy

The Laurenziana Ptolemy, which is housed under the shelfmark Ms Plut. 30.3 in the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, is probably one of the most magnificent copies of the ancient geographical treatise, the Geographia, which once again became a standard work during the Renaissance due to its extensive accuracy. The large-format codex comprises the Latin translation of the original Greek text, produced at the beginning of the 15th century by Jacopo D'Angelo and revised by Nicolaus Germanus, as well as 30 captivating maps of the world as it was known in Europe in the 1460s, 29 of them double-sided, whose intense blue and gleaming gold applications catch the eye. At the same time, the illumination of the text pages enthrals with 120 beautiful white vine initials and borders as well as extensive chrysography. A truly magnificent jewel of early Italian humanism!

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Ptolemaei geographia
La Geographia di Tolomeo
Ptolemäus: Geographia
Type: Manuscript on parchment
Size / Format: 268 pages / 43.5 × 30.0 cm
Origin: Italy
Date: Between 1466 and 1468
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Renaissance
Genre: Geography / Maps
Language: Latin
Script: Gothic Textura Humanistic Minuscule Square Capitals
Illustrations: 30 gold-decorated maps, 29 of them double-sided, as well as numerous historiated and ornamental white vine initials and borders; 1 historiated initial; 119 decorated initials; 27 framed text panels, each with a decorated initial
Content: Geography by Ptolemy, translated into Latin by Jacopo D'Angelo and revised and expanded by Nicolaus Germanus