[Untitled world map] 'Insculptum est per Iohanne Schnitzer de Artmsheim' ]

A FIRST EDITION of the first Ptolemy wood block printed world map north of the Alps, by Leonard Holm of Ulm in Germany and is one of the most beautiful of the early maps of the world.
The map is the first to be signed with the signature of the engraver ?Johanne Schnitzer de Armssheim.?
The world map shows for the first time some changes in Ptolemy?s traditional conceptions.
-- The World Encompassed. Geographically, the Ulm Ptolemy ?ventures to represent some features which update the Ptolemaic world picture and which were very probably based on a manuscript of Donnus Nicolaus Germanus of the 1470s?
-- Shirley. It shows the beginnings of an expansion of the circumscribed, pre-Columbian view of the world. Unlike previous maps, which show the northern limit of the known world to be Scotland, here we have a rudimentary appearance of Scandinavia.
The Ulm Ptolemy was printed by Leinhart Holle, whose business went bankrupt shortly after publication. His stock was taken over by Johann Reger, who published another edition in 1486 using the same blocks.

This wood block print is printed on heavy paper. The map has as often, trimmed margins. A few small marginal splits are professionally verso reinforced. Centerfold is verso reinforced due to the usual paperthinning, a small horizontal tear of 12mm (next to the Arabian peninsular) has been reinforced also. The colors are applied recently but are definitely period correct. The map makes great presentation and is generally in very good condition.

Following is a high resolution scan of the verso of the map. The earlier mentioned restorations are very hardly notable on the scan, simply because they are minor, well done, and only visible when holding the map against light!

Reference: Shirley, The Mapping of The World, 10, plate 20, Rarity Index R; The World Encompassed, #37, plate XI.