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Atlases from a Private Swiss Collection
ORTELIUS, Abraham (1527-1598)
Theatrum orbis terrarum. Antwerp: Gilles Coppens de Diest, 1570.
Details
ORTELIUS, Abraham (1527-1598)
Theatrum orbis terrarum. Antwerp: Gilles Coppens de Diest, 1570.
Fine copy of the world’s first modern atlas in a strictly contemporary German binding. ‘For the first time... all the elements of the modern atlas were brought to publication in Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. This substantial undertaking assembled... the best available maps of the world by the most renowned and up-to-date geographers. Unlike earlier compositions... each of Ortelius' maps was engraved specifically for his atlas according to uniform format. Through its launching, pre-eminence in map publishing was transferred from Italy to the Netherlands leading to over a hundred years of Dutch supremacy in all facets of cartographical production’ (Shirley, The Mapping of the World, p.144).
The maps are mostly a combination of Van der Krogt’s 31:001B and C, with the maps of the world and the Americas in variant b of their first editions, and maps 46 (Russia) and 51 (Palestine) as per Van der Krogt’s 31:002. The ‘Catalogus Auctorum’ at the beginning contains 92 names, while the text at end contains the letter by Humphrey Llwyd dated 5 April 1568, ‘De Mona druidum Insula’ on 3 leaves signed a1-a3 (31:001C). Van der Krogt III, 31:001B and C.
Large folio (445 x 320mm). Text in Latin. Engraved allegorical title, 53 engraved double-page maps, most by Frans Hogenberg (a fine, clean copy, with only a couple of markings to toponyms on maps 13 and 24, and minor insignificant browning, spotting and staining mostly confined to text leaves). Contemporary, possibly south German, calf over flexible pasteboard, stamped and tooled in gilt and blind with architectonic corner- and side pieces, central gilt arms of a Nuremburg family to covers, remains of green silk ties (rubbed, spine more heavily with headcap a little defective, small area of worming to head of lower cover and a few wormtracks to upper cover). Provenance: Nuremberg family (binding).
Theatrum orbis terrarum. Antwerp: Gilles Coppens de Diest, 1570.
Fine copy of the world’s first modern atlas in a strictly contemporary German binding. ‘For the first time... all the elements of the modern atlas were brought to publication in Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. This substantial undertaking assembled... the best available maps of the world by the most renowned and up-to-date geographers. Unlike earlier compositions... each of Ortelius' maps was engraved specifically for his atlas according to uniform format. Through its launching, pre-eminence in map publishing was transferred from Italy to the Netherlands leading to over a hundred years of Dutch supremacy in all facets of cartographical production’ (Shirley, The Mapping of the World, p.144).
The maps are mostly a combination of Van der Krogt’s 31:001B and C, with the maps of the world and the Americas in variant b of their first editions, and maps 46 (Russia) and 51 (Palestine) as per Van der Krogt’s 31:002. The ‘Catalogus Auctorum’ at the beginning contains 92 names, while the text at end contains the letter by Humphrey Llwyd dated 5 April 1568, ‘De Mona druidum Insula’ on 3 leaves signed a1-a3 (31:001C). Van der Krogt III, 31:001B and C.
Large folio (445 x 320mm). Text in Latin. Engraved allegorical title, 53 engraved double-page maps, most by Frans Hogenberg (a fine, clean copy, with only a couple of markings to toponyms on maps 13 and 24, and minor insignificant browning, spotting and staining mostly confined to text leaves). Contemporary, possibly south German, calf over flexible pasteboard, stamped and tooled in gilt and blind with architectonic corner- and side pieces, central gilt arms of a Nuremburg family to covers, remains of green silk ties (rubbed, spine more heavily with headcap a little defective, small area of worming to head of lower cover and a few wormtracks to upper cover). Provenance: Nuremberg family (binding).
Brought to you by
Eugenio Donadoni
Senior Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts