Barbariae et Biledulgerid, Nova Descriptio. Double-page map of North African region of Libya and the Sahara desert, colored by a later hand.
[N.p: ca. 1590].
Price: $450.00
About the item
Image area 19-1/2" x 12-7/8" in 28" x 23" mat. 1 vols. Imperfectly colored along crease down center, small and unobtrusive dampstain in one corner. Still a nice piece.
Item #40297
Abraham Ortelius (1527-98) was a Flemish geographer of German origin. His major work, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570, with later revisions and addendums), was the first modern atlas. It was based on contemporary charts and maps, and contained a collection of plates engraved by Frans Hagenberg in a uniform size and format. The Theatrum preceded the first atlas of Ortelius' good friend, Gerardus Mercator. In fact, popular sentimental legend has it that Mercator delayed publication of his own work so that his younger friend's would appear first. Although this simply isn't true (Mercator wasn't ready), the legendary cartographer did complement Ortelius for the “care and elegance” he had put into the Theatrum.
