[MOLL, Herman]. Geographia classica: The geography of the ancients so far describ'd as it is contain'd in the Greek and Latin classicks, in twenty-nine maps of the Old World..., London, Printed for C. Browne, MDCCXVII [=1717].

Herman Moll (1654-1732) was a British engraver, cartographer and editor, possibly of German or Flemish descent. Moll settled in London in 1678, and kept a bookshop in that city. He became known for his detailed maps of Europe and America, as well as for the illustrations of “Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe and “Gulliver's Travels” by Jonathan Swift.

Moll worked first as an engraver for other cartographers, but started publishing his own maps in 1690. From 1695 to 1736 Moll published a series of multi-volume Atlases. Nearly all his maps were coloured and illustrated, and were copied by several contemporary and later cartographers. In 1710 he started making highly original small globes, considered extremely rare today. All of his maps were repeatedly republished, as well as used in territorial disputes; due to their unique aesthetics they are among the most sought-after in the history of cartography.

The present edition includes twenty-nine maps. The names of the locations were sourced from Greek and Roman authors, such as Homer, Vergil, Ovid, Lucian, Sallust, Livy, Plutarch, Quintus Curtius Rufus, Xenophon, Herodotus and others. There is also a map showing locations mentioned in the Old and New Testaments. As stated on the title page, the edition was destined for school use.

Written by Ioli Vingopoulou