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Maps by Abraham Ortelius

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Following the death of their father, Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) and his sisters became map illuminators or colourists; and Ortelius also dabbled in buying and selling general antiques. From 1558 onwards, he is recorded as purchasing multiple copies of maps in order to colour them, but also began building up a large personal collection.

Ortelius was certainly the “man for the moment” whose interest in history and the classics translated itself into his maps of the ancient world and, through his draughtsmanship and cartographic skills, the production of his maps of the modern, emerging world. His life spanned a period of dramatic European history and the cultural enlightenment of the late Renaissance, while his friendship with the great Gerard Mercator, and other connections with like-minded geographers, historians and academics around Europe, provided the raw material for one of the landmarks of cartographic history.

From about 1560, possibly as a result of his friendship with Mercator, Ortelius began to produce maps - an eight sheet world map being the earliest. At this time, Ortelius also began preparing his greatest project, the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Having already become probably the greatest cartographic bibliographer of the period, Ortelius was able to prepare 53 map sheets based on the most up-to-date information, which were engraved by Frans Hogenberg, and first published in 1570.

The atlas achieved instant fame as “the world’s first regularly produced atlas” (Skelton), being the first atlas with maps prepared to a uniform format. It was also an immediate commercial success, being reprinted four times in 1570.  Between 1570 and 1641 (the publication of the last recognised edition of the Theatrum …) few competing volumes appeared and the atlas was able to expand from its original 53 maps to over 160. Over 30 different editions, with text in Latin, French, Dutch, German, Italian, English or Spanish, testify to the popularity and esteem attributed to the work. Marcel Van Den Broecke, whose fascinating work on Ortelius and his maps is often quoted, estimates that around 7300 complete atlases were published using a total of 234 copperplates, either replacements or reworkings as plates became out-dated, worn, or as new information became available. Amongst this latter category, the maps added in the 1580’s and 90’s of the world, the Americas, China, the Pacific, Japan, Peru and Florida, and Iceland are important historically and justly famous.The maps themselves are finely engraved, often very decorative and generally found with text on the reverse.

After Ortelius’ death in 1598 the atlas continued to be printed and published by the Plantin Press. Between 1602 and 1609 it was published by Johann Baptist Vrients, who added a variety of fine maps including the very decorative large plates of England and Wales, and of Ireland. Publication reverted to the Plantin Press, under the control of the Moretus brothers, from 1612.

Although only the relatively unsuccessful atlases of De Jode and, ultimately, Mercator were published during the sixteenth century life of the Theatrum …, in 1607 Jodocus Hondius’s issue of Mercator’s Atlas ... with many newly prepared maps began to supersede Ortelius’ work.
 

World Maps   Europe Maps   Africa Maps   Asia Maps   America Maps   West Indies Maps   British Isles Maps   Portraits and the Map Trade  

World Maps

Typus Orbis Terrarum
Typus Orbis Terrarum

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1587 -1612?. copperplate, coloured, 49 x 36 cm.

Ref: 37929

Price: £ 6800

Europe Maps

Portugalliae Que Olim Lufitania, Novissima...
Portugalliae Que Olim Lufitania, Novissima...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1587 -1612. copperplate, coloured, 34 x 51 cm.

Ref: 34255

Price: £ 700

Hispalensis Conventvs Delineatio
Hispalensis Conventvs Delineatio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1579-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 34 x 51 cm.

Ref: 34256

Price: £ 480

Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio
Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 47.5 x 36 cm.

Ref: 34147

Price: £ 560

Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio
Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 47 x 36 cm.

Ref: 37852

Price: £ 850

Burgundiae Comitatus Recentiss. Descriptio
Burgundiae Comitatus Recentiss. Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1579. Copperplate, coloured, 49.5 x 35.5 cm.

Ref: 17208

Price: £ 400

Provinciae Regionis Galliae, Vera Exactissimaque Descriptio
Provinciae Regionis Galliae, Vera Exactissimaque Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1595 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 50 x 35 cm.

Ref: 34161

Price: £ 600

Andegaven Sivm Ditio Nis Vera Et Integra Descripto
Andegaven Sivm Ditio Nis Vera Et Integra Descripto

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1579-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 47 x 36 cm.

Ref: 34806

Price: £ 320

Caletensium Et Bononiensium / Veromandorum ...
Caletensium Et Bononiensium / Veromandorum ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1558-1612. Copperplate, uncoloured, 47 x 36 cm.

Ref: 35077

Price: £ 120

Gallia Narbonens / Sabaudiae ... / Venuxini Comitatus ...
Gallia Narbonens / Sabaudiae ... / Venuxini Comitatus ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1584-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 47 x 36 cm.

Ref: 35098

Price: £ 320

Galliae Regni Potentiss: Nova Descriptio ...
Galliae Regni Potentiss: Nova Descriptio ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 49.5 x 34.5 cm.

Ref: 37855

Price: £ 600

Caletensium ... / Veromanduorum Eorum ...
Caletensium ... / Veromanduorum Eorum ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 48 x 33 cm.

Ref: 37856

Price: £ 300

Galliae Narbonenesis Ora Maritima ... / Sabaudiae, Et Burgundiae
Galliae Narbonenesis Ora Maritima ... / Sabaudiae, Et Burgundiae

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 44.5 x 29.5 cm.

Ref: 37857

Price: £ 450

Regionis Biturgium Exactiss: ... / Limaniae Topogrphiae ...
Regionis Biturgium Exactiss: ... / Limaniae Topogrphiae ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 48 x 31 cm.

Ref: 37858

Price: £ 240

Flandriae Comitatus Descriptio
Flandriae Comitatus Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1592 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 49 x 37.5 cm.

Ref: 34157

Price: £ 500

Namvrcvm
Namvrcvm

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1579-1612. Copperplate, uncoloured, 47 x 36 cm.

Ref: 35081

Price: £ 120

Atrebatum Regio=Nis Vera Descriptio
Atrebatum Regio=Nis Vera Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1595-1612. Copperplate, uncoloured, 47 x 36 cm.

Ref: 35083

Price: £ 160

Bavaria Olim Vindeliciae Delineationis Compendium
Bavaria Olim Vindeliciae Delineationis Compendium

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1573 -1579. copperplate, uncoloured, 48.5 x 38 cm.

Ref: 17180

Price: £ 400

Saxoniae, Misniae, Thuringiae, Nova Exactissimaq[ue] Descriptio
Saxoniae, Misniae, Thuringiae, Nova Exactissimaq[ue] Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570 -1579. copperplate, coloured, 50 x 34 cm.

Ref: 17191

Price: £ 260

Germaniae Typvs
Germaniae Typvs

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1603-1612. Copperplate, uncoloured, 34 x 51 cm.

Ref: 34272

Price: £ 550

Turingiae Noviss. Descript. ... / Misniae Et Lusatiae Tabula ...
Turingiae Noviss. Descript. ... / Misniae Et Lusatiae Tabula ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1573-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 48 x 30 cm.

Ref: 35089

Price: £ 300

Silesia Typus
Silesia Typus

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1595-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 42 x 30 cm.

Ref: 35090

Price: £ 300

Bavaria Olim Vindelic=iae Delineationis Compendium
Bavaria Olim Vindelic=iae Delineationis Compendium

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1573-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 49 x 38 cm.

Ref: 35092

Price: £ 400

Braunsuicensis Et Luneburgen ... / Norimberg ...
Braunsuicensis Et Luneburgen ... / Norimberg ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1590-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 48 x 31 cm.

Ref: 35094

Price: £ 300

Buchaviae Fiue Fulden Sis Ditionis Typus / Waldeccensis ...
Buchaviae Fiue Fulden Sis Ditionis Typus / Waldeccensis ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1579-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 47 x 31 cm.

Ref: 35095

Price: £ 300

Franciae Orientalis ... / Monasteriensis Et Osnaburgensis
Franciae Orientalis ... / Monasteriensis Et Osnaburgensis

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 51 x 37 cm.

Ref: 35096

Price: £ 300

Helvetiae Descriptio
Helvetiae Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 45 x 34 cm.

Ref: 34156

Price: £ 1000

Patavini Territorii Corographia ...
Patavini Territorii Corographia ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1573-1574. Copperplate, coloured, 20 x 31 cm.

Ref: 10777

Price: £ 380

Senensis Dictionis .../ Corsica / Marcha Anconae, Olim Picenum
Senensis Dictionis .../ Corsica / Marcha Anconae, Olim Picenum

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1573 -1612. copperplate, coloured, 48.5 x 32.5 cm.

Ref: 34317

Price: £ 450

Aprutii Ulterioris Descriptio
Aprutii Ulterioris Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1590 -1612. copperplate, coloured, 41.5 x 32 cm.

Ref: 34403

Price: £ 500

Rhetiae Alpestris ... Tirolis Comitatus / Goritiae, Karstii ...
Rhetiae Alpestris ... Tirolis Comitatus / Goritiae, Karstii ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1573 -1612. copperplate, coloured, 49.5 x 34 cm.

Ref: 34409

Price: £ 480

Ducatus Ferrariensis, Finitiarumque Partium Descriptio ...
Ducatus Ferrariensis, Finitiarumque Partium Descriptio ...

By J.B.Vrients / A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1608-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 51 x44 cm.

Ref: 35401

Price: £ 600

Moraviae Quae Olim Marcomannorum Sedes Corographia ...
Moraviae Quae Olim Marcomannorum Sedes Corographia ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1573 -1579. copperplate, coloured, 47 x 35 cm.

Ref: 17183

Price: £ 300

Hvngariae Descriptio, Wolfgango Lazio Avct
Hvngariae Descriptio, Wolfgango Lazio Avct

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 34 x 51 cm.

Ref: 34259

Price: £ 450

Salisburgensis Ivrisdictionis...
Salisburgensis Ivrisdictionis...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1592-1612. Copperplate, uncoloured, 34 x 51 cm.

Ref: 34267

Price: £ 340

Carinthiae Dvcatvs ... / Histriae ... / Zarae ...
Carinthiae Dvcatvs ... / Histriae ... / Zarae ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1573-1612. Copperplate, uncoloured, 34 x 51 cm.

Ref: 34269

Price: £ 340

Regni Bohemiae Descriptio
Regni Bohemiae Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570-1612. Copperplate, uncoloured, 34 x 51 cm.

Ref: 34271

Price: £ 320

Austriae Ducatus Chorographia ...
Austriae Ducatus Chorographia ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 46 x 33.5 cm.

Ref: 37840

Price: £ 750

Hungariae Descriptio ...
Hungariae Descriptio ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 49 x 34.5 cm.

Ref: 37841

Price: £ 750

Schlavoniae, Croatiae, Carniae, Istriae, Bosniae ...
Schlavoniae, Croatiae, Carniae, Istriae, Bosniae ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 46 x 33 cm.

Ref: 37851

Price: £ 750

Pannoniae, Et Illyrici Veteris Tabula
Pannoniae, Et Illyrici Veteris Tabula

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1590 -1601. copperplate, coloured, 45.5 x 35.5 cm.

Ref: 37873

Price: £ 500

Russiae, Moscoviae Et Tartariae Descriptio ...
Russiae, Moscoviae Et Tartariae Descriptio ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 44 x 35 cm.

Ref: 37846

Price: £ 3500

Daniae Regni Typvs
Daniae Regni Typvs

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1595 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 34 x 51 cm.

Ref: 34265

Price: £ 500

Daniae Regni Typus
Daniae Regni Typus

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 40 x 31 cm.

Ref: 37848

Price: £ 800

Graeciae Universae ... Descriptio
Graeciae Universae ... Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 51 x 36 cm.

Ref: 34148

Price: £ 800

Africa Maps

Africae Tabula Nova
Africae Tabula Nova

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570-1595. copperplate, uncoloured, 51 x 37.5 cm.

Ref: 37599

Price: £ 1750

Barbariae Et Biledulgerid, Nova Descriptio.
Barbariae Et Biledulgerid, Nova Descriptio.

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570-1592. copperplate, coloured, 49.5 x 32.5 cm.

Ref: 29800

Price: £ 520

Acores Insulae
Acores Insulae

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1584 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 46 x 33 cm.

Ref: 34130

Price: £ 600

Asia Maps

Persici Sive Sophorum Regni Typus
Persici Sive Sophorum Regni Typus

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570 -1612. copperplate, coloured, 49 x 35 cm.

Ref: 34140

Price: £ 700

Natoliae ... / Aegypti ... / Carthaginis
Natoliae ... / Aegypti ... / Carthaginis

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 49 x 32 cm.

Ref: 37845

Price: £ 500

Terra Sancta
Terra Sancta

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1584 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 50 x 37 cm.

Ref: 34138

Price: £ 750

Tartariae Sive Magni Chami Regni
Tartariae Sive Magni Chami Regni

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 46.5 x 35 cm.

Ref: 34150

Price: £ 1600

Chinae, Olim Sinarum Regionis, Nova Descriptio
Chinae, Olim Sinarum Regionis, Nova Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1584 -1597. copperplate, coloured, 47 x 37 cm.

Ref: 37735

Price: £ 5200

Indiae Orientalis, Insularumque Adiacentium Typus
Indiae Orientalis, Insularumque Adiacentium Typus

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570 -1608. copperplate, uncoloured, 50 x 35 cm.

Ref: 36628

Price: £ 2800

America Maps

Americae Sive Novi Orbis Nova Descriptio
Americae Sive Novi Orbis Nova Descriptio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1587 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 48.5 x 38.5 cm.

Ref: 34660

Price: £ 5200

America Sive Novus Orbis
America Sive Novus Orbis

By A.Ortelius / P.Galle of Antwerp 1598 -1601. copperplate, coloured, 10.5 x 10 cm.

Ref: 38023

Price: £ 380

Peruviae / La Florida / Guastecan Regio
Peruviae / La Florida / Guastecan Regio

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1584 -1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 46.5 x 34 cm.

Ref: 34134

Price: £ 2500

West Indies Maps

Culiacanae Americae Regionis Descriptio / Hispaniolae, Cubae ...
Culiacanae Americae Regionis Descriptio / Hispaniolae, Cubae ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1579 -1598. copperplate, coloured, 50 x 39 cm.

Ref: 27326

Price: £ 1200

Culiacanae Americae Regionis Descriptio / Hispaniolae, Cubae ...
Culiacanae Americae Regionis Descriptio / Hispaniolae, Cubae ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1579-1612. Copperplate, coloured, 47 x 36 cm.

Ref: 35079

Price: £ 1250

British Isles Maps

Angliae, Scotiae, Et Hiberniae, Sive Britannicar: Insularum ...
Angliae, Scotiae, Et Hiberniae, Sive Britannicar: Insularum ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570-1612. copperplate, uncoloured, 49.5 x 34.5 cm.

Ref: 29327

Price: £ 1250

Angliae Et Hiberniae Accurata Descriptio
Angliae Et Hiberniae Accurata Descriptio

By A.Ortelius / J.B.Vrients of Antwerpen 1606-1612. copperplate, coloured, 56.5 x 43 cm.

Ref: 34127

Price: £ 5000

Angliae, Scotiae, Et Hiberniae, Sive Britannicar Insularum ...
Angliae, Scotiae, Et Hiberniae, Sive Britannicar Insularum ...

By A.Ortelius of Antwerp 1570. copperplate, coloured, 49.5 x 34.5 cm.

Ref: 37844

Price: £ 2600

Portraits and the Map Trade

[Portrait] Abraham Ortelius
[Portrait] Abraham Ortelius

By A.Ortelius / P.Galle / J.B.Vrients of Antwerp 1579 -1612. copperplate, coloured, 21 x 32 cm.

Ref: 34118

Price: £ 600