Graeciae Pars Septentrionalis
Cartographer / Artist: Guillaume Delisle
Date Created: c. 1707
Medium: Copperplate engraving
Physical Dimensions: 28.5 × 21.6 inches
Geographic Scope: Northern Greece, Macedonia, Thrace, Aegean Sea
Archive Catalog ID: fp5-img-1944
Provenance: The Dr. Joseph R. Rubini Archive
Collection: Greece
This finely detailed antique map, titled Graeciae Pars Septentrionalis, was crafted by the prominent Royal French cartographer Guillaume Delisle. The map delineates the northern regions of ancient Greece and the surrounding classical territories, including Illyria, Macedonia, Thessaly, Epirus, Thrace, Moesia Superior and Inferior, alongside parts of Mysia and Phrygia in Asia Minor. Delisle was celebrated for his pioneering scientific approach to mapmaking, replacing traditional speculative cartography with precise astronomical calculations and rigorous historical source criticism. The geographical scope extends from the Ionian and Adriatic Seas in the west to the Propontis (Sea of Marmara) and the Euxine Sea (Black Sea) in the east. Major Aegean islands such as Lemnos, Samothrace, Imbros, Thasos, and Lesbos are clearly charted, as are prominent peninsulas like Mount Athos (Chalcidice). Ancient regional divisions, tribal territories, cities, rivers, and mountain ranges are rendered in Latin nomenclature, offering a comprehensive reference to the geography of classical antiquity. Graphically, the map features a clear distance scale in the upper left corner comparing Greek stadia, Roman miles, and English miles. Outer latitude and longitude borders frame the map with precision. Delisle's elegant copperplate engraving style is demonstrated in the delicate coastline hatching, fine lettering, and balanced spatial layout typical of early 18th-century French cartographic masterworks.
Condition: Clean, crisp copperplate impression with full original margins.. Faint uniform age-toning and light handling marks near the outer sheet edges.. Very minor centerfold crease as issued, with no tears or structural damage.




