[The presence of Ptolemy's Geography in Portuguese libraries: inventory, contextualisation and uses of an ancient scientific book].

Abstract

In this study, we have identified the editions of Claudio Ptolemy's Geography printed up to 1730 and held in Portuguese libraries. Most of these copies correspond to sixteenth-century editions and are a very relevant indicator for analysing the ways in which this classic scientific text was read in the context of the Portuguese Renaissance. In order to reconstitute the universe of readers of this book, we identified the ownership marks of former owners of these books. This set of signs allows us to follow the diversity of uses of this work, in particular those that refer to monastic and university environments, as well as the courtly and mercantile circles that were most interested in this book.