Map, World, Specialty, Reference Book, Mapping of the World, Rodney Shirley, London, 1983

Rodney W. Shirley
The Mapping of the World: Early Printed World Maps 1472-1700
Holland Press, London: 1983, 1st edition
Folio book with slip case measuring 14 x 10 inches
$500, but subject to availability

The standard and essential reference work on antique world maps, including works by Ortelius, Mercator, Hondius, Blaeu, DeWit, Visscher, Speed, Coronelli, and many others.  The book is illustrated with a color frontispiece spread and over 440 plates, 19 in color. This is a first edition in the original maroon cloth binding and dust jacket, with matching cloth-covered slipcase. The author, Rodney W. Shirley, is a leading scholarly authority on maps, based in the U.K.  He is a member of the Advisory Council of the International Map Collectors’ Society (IMCoS) (as of January 2009) and is a past president of that organization.

Condition:  Contents very good with light handling, and light dusting to top edge.  Dust jacket very good, a little bit handled, some light soiling and a few small scratches.  Slip case very good with some light toning, soiling, wear.