Beautifully framed small map of Asia. Cluver-Bertius c1701

by Cluver, Philipp

French-polished cedar-framed miniature antique map of Asia, c1700.

With rococo-bordered cartouche (title piece), this is a wonderful little finely-detailed copperplate engraved map by Philippi Cluverii (1580-1622), after the map for Brevarium Orbis Terrarum (The World in Brief) by Petrus Bertius (1565-1629). This map was published c.1701 in Rhenum (Utrecht) by Guillielmus Broedelet (also known as Willem Broedelet) for the first Utrecht edition of Philipp Cluver's Introductionis in Universam Geographicam (Introduction to the Geography of the World).

Early German geographer and historian, Philipp Cluver was born in Gdansk (now Danzig, Poland). He joined the military and travelled throughout europe then moved to Leiden, Holland in 1615 and was appointed geographius academicus (academic geographer) the following year. Cluver was the founder of historical geography, and approached geography through history and classical authors. His most important work was Introductionis in Universam Geographicam (Introduction to Universal Geography), first published in 1624 and reissued a number of times. 

This map has been framed with a high quality conservation ragmat mount, decorated with painted bevel-window-edge and linewash French-matt, and framed by gold slip and French-polished solid ceder frame.

To border of map measures 115 x 120mm (4 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches).External frame size is 380 x 385mm (15 inches x approximately 15.1/4 inches).