Part of a Set of Ortelius' World and Four Continents in Exceedingly Fine Condition:   Typus Orbis Terrarum

Original copperplate printed map
Fine handcolor
358 x 490 mm
Map # W-109(5)
$  Sold (as part of a matching set of 5 maps)

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Geographically, Ortelius approached the preparation of this map of the world, as he did all his maps, in a thoroughly scientific manner.  It is likely that Ortelius obtained some of the data for this map on the commentaries of numerous explorers but probably the most important source  was Gerard Mercator, with whom Ortelius corresponded, and particularly Mercator's twenty-one sheet world map of 1569.

This map is part of a matching set of the world and the four continent maps from Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.   The Theatrum Orbis Terrarum was the first atlas that produced a uniform series of maps of the world.  The publication of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum  was the starting point for over 100 years of Dutch supremacy in the production of beautiful maps and atlases.  

To read about and view the other maps in the set,  click the hyperlink on each of the following names  -   Africa,   The Americas,  Asia,  Europe.

This set is from a later edition of the Theatrum with a possible date of 1592, 1595, 1601, 1603, or, less likely, 1609, or 1612, based on van den Broecke.  Text on verso is in Latin with a page no. "1". This map has the date of 1587 in lower right of the map. (van den Broecke, p. 43).

There were three different copperplates of this map:  one in 1570, one in 1586, and one in 1587 (Burden).  This map is from the 3rd plate of 1587 (this is most easily identified by the change from clouds to a strapwork border and the addition of medallions in the four corners of the map).

Very Fine Condition.  It will be extremely difficult to find a set of Ortelius world and continent maps in as fine a condition.   Wide margins.  Clean, bright map image.   All five maps in the set have similar minor professional patches in corner bottom margins.