Geografia cioe Descrittione Universale della Terra… Original beautiful and complete atlas from 1597/8 by Giovanni Antonio Magini. Contains 27 uncolored Ptolemy maps and 37 hand colored Mercator maps. Also included is the oft missing double hemisphere world map. Atlas measures 8" x 12".
450+ pages.

Claudius Ptolemy:  (c. 87- c. 150 A.D.), was a scholar in Alexandria, Egypt who collated classical Greek geographical knowledge during the second century. Maps based on his endeavors were first published in the 15th century.

Gerardus Mercator: (Born: 5 March 1512 in Rupelmonde, Flanders. Died: 2 Dec 1594 in Duisburg, Duchy of Cleves.) parents were Hubert and Emerentia Kremer. Hubert Kremer worked on the land and was also a cobbler. Gerard was educated with the Brethren of the Common Life in 'sHertogenbosch, Holland.
Mercator produced his first map, of Israel, in 1537. The first 'flat' map of the world by Mercator was in 1569: this was to lend his name to posterity - 'Mercator's Projection'