From Gerard Mercator’s edition of ‘Claudii Ptolemaei Tabulae Geographicae Orbis Terrarum’. It was in 1578 that one of the worlds greatest cartographers put out an edition of the earliest surviving geographical treatise. This particular map focuses on the region covering part of the silk route to China. Along this path rode much of Asia’s spices to Europe. It is adorned with camels and camps of traders en route. Koeman Me 5; Nordenskiold 234; Phillips, P.L. (Atlases) 384; Shirley BL T.Ptol-11a & 11k; Van der Krogt, P. (Atlantes) 1:501.