Ptolemy Map World

"The work of ancient Greek culture 'Geografice hyfegesis ...' by Claudius Ptolemy, an astronomer and geographer of Alexandria was written around 160 A.C. It influences the knowledge of the world and the self-awareness of Europeans for nearly 1500 years. The text in the presented BOZ codex (Zamoyski Library) is the fourth edited version of Geography authored by a monk Donnus Nicolaus Germanus with the later added title Cosmographia Claudii Ptolemaei. It contains, in the first volume the text of the work dedicated to pope Paul II and in the second volume 27 maps prepared on the basis of information contained in the work by Ptolemy and three "new" maps drawn according to the state of knowlegde from the beginning of the 15th century. One may find in it very significant information about Europe and the whole ancient world from the times before the discovery of America.

It is the only preserved copy of the fourth edited version, which is why it is of immense interest to historians. It has not been published thus far, only pre-war facsimiles of two maps quotes in several publications are known. The whole codex is very richly decorated and gilt-edged. Both maps and their descriptions are within frames featuring floral motifs, at the beginning of each description are gilt initials in the bianchi ghirari style. The presented map of the world, stretching from Western Ocean to China and from the sources of Nile to Greenland is at the same time image of the Earth in the boundless outer space. It is surrounded by personifications of 12 winds, the luminous oval in gold, pinkish and blue symbolizes the elements which make up the Universe: earth, air, fire and water. The other hemisphere was not presented."

• The 1467 illuminated manuscript in latin of Ptolemy's 'Geographia' ('Cosmographia') is online at the Polish Digital Library.
• All twenty seven Ptolemy manuscript maps have been uploaded to Wikimedia.
• "Ptolemy's World" exhibition site at James Ford Bell Library, University of Minnesota.
• New Advent: Nicolaus Germanus; Geography and the Church.
• Bill Thayer's translation of Ptolemy: The Geography, at the University of Chicago.
• Translation of Books I & II of Ptolemy's 'Geographia' by Louis Francis, 1994.
• The Wikipedia article on Ptolemy has a wealth of links.

Apokalypse

"The Apocalypse, or Revelation to John, the last book of the Bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which this book is an outstanding example. [..]

The Book of Revelation cannot be adequately understood except against the historical background that occasioned its writing. Like Daniel and other apocalypses, it was composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis. The book itself suggests that the crisis was ruthless persecution of the early church by the Roman authorities; the harlot Babylon symbolizes pagan Rome, the city on seven hills. The book is, then, an exhortation and admonition to Christians of the first century to stand firm in the faith and to avoid compromise with paganism, despite the threat of adversity and martyrdom; they are to await patiently the fulfillment of God's mighty promises."

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"The Apocalypse is a xylographic book [see 'Totentanz Blockbook' for more info/links on this printing technique] printed from full-page blocks carrying two horizontal pictures, and with the texts usually cut in framed rectangles within the picture borders. The images are done in outline with no shading or cross-hatching and there is no background landscape. There were six editions of the blockbook, the last three probably German. All have forty-eight leaves, except the third which has fifty and a revised text. It was copied from the earlier editions by an equally skilled cutter who probably is responsible for cutting both the text and the images. The second edition is printed from the same blocks as the first but with signature marks added (the same letter appears within facing pages on a sheet).

It is generally agreed among scholars that the Apocalypse is the most ancient of the blockbooks although there is wide divergence of opinion on the date of the first edition, ranging from about 1400 to as late as 1450–52. Manuscripts of the Apocalypse seem to have originated in northern France and in England and were very popular. From manuscripts,[..] the fantastic and bizarre subjects, texts, and the format of the blockbooks were derived. The style, the composition, and the iconography of the pictures were inspired by models in both manuscripts and tapestries, such as the numerous versions listed in the inventories of the collections of the Dukes of Burgundy. In fact the woodcuts are closely related to the famous Apocalypse tapestries [i, ii, iii] at Angers, made about 1380 by Nicolas Bataille, after the miniatures or drawings of an artist working for the Burgundian Court, Jean Bandol, called Hennequin de Bruges."

The images above come from a late 15th century compilation blockbook [Cod Pal. Germ 34] of which the 'Apokalypse' (4th ed.) forms one section. The printed text is in latin but handwritten german translation sheets were inserted between the blockbook pages. The book is hosted by the University of Heidelberg (click the '-' sign at the top of the page for thumbnail images).

Round Playing Cards of Master PW

Queen of Columbines

Five of Columbines

Ten of Columbines

Valet of Parrots

Nine of Parrots

King of Parrots

King of Hares

Knave of Hares

Valet of Hares

King of Roses

Queen of Roses

Ace of Roses

Three of Carnations

Valet of Carnations

Ace of Carnations

This engraved set of round playing cards was made by Monogrammist (Master) PW of Cologne in about 1500.

"The set is divided into five different groups (roses, columbines, carnations, parrots, hares) and each suite has ten numbers and four figures (king, queen, valet, knave)."

In addition to the base set of seventy cards, there were two further cards whose function is unknown. Just over half of the deck owned by the British Museum has survived and all their remaining cards have been posted online at the Prints Database (if that link doesn't work, search with 'Monogrammist PW' in the free text field on the advanced search page). {a few of the above images had some stains removed}

Trifoni have a horrible framed site but a wealth of early card history, including a complete copy of the Master PW series reproduced from a 1970s facsimile printing.

Consumer Industrobotics

• All drawings 1965-2007 © Anton van Dalen.
• Anton van Dalen was the secret assistant to Saul Steinberg (The New Yorker magazine illustrator: i, ii, iii).
• Thanks Mooooooooon!
• Previously.