This is a fine example of the first and most important of three copper plate world maps published by Abraham Ortelius. It was the first map in his highly important atlas entitled ‘Theatrum Orbis Terrarum’, the first modern atlas ever published. The map projects the latest in geographical thought including the dominant ‘Terra Australis’ or southern continent, the bulge to the south western portion of South America, and Mercator’s four large islands near the north pole. The old world is reasonably accurate, especially the African continent. Further east however the form for Japan is still awaiting proper identification. North America overall is reasonably accurately delineated although the scale helps. The east coast still needed refining although the scale of the St. Lawrence River is to be commended.

This map was engraved by Franciscus Hogenberg whose name appears below Cicero’s quotation at the bottom. The whole is beautifully finished off with surrounding clouds. The main source of geographical content was the tremendously important world map by Gerard Mercator published the previous year, 1569. That map used Mercator’s own projection for the first time, only three examples survive. Ortelius however did not use Mercator’s projection, possibly because no one could understand it until the end of the century. This example with Latin text to the verso is from the 1570 or 1573 edition. By 1575 a bolt like repair had occurred to the crack in the plate lower left. Van den Broecke, M. 1 (state 3); Shirley, R.W. (World) #122.