Antique Maps by Abraham Ortelius (*1527 - 1598)

Abraham Ortelius was born 1527 in Antwerp. He studied mathematics, Greek and Latin and travelled a lot across Europe. He established a business in dealing with books and drawing maps. His first remarkable map was a 8 sheet world map in the year 1564, but only three copies have survived. In 1570 he issued the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern Atlas with uniformly sized maps in a systematic collection. The term Atlas was not used until Mercator introduced it 20 years later. Most of the maps in Theatrum have been engraved by Frans Hogenberg. At the time of publication, the atlas was the most expensive book ever printed. Nevertheless it was a big success and around 7000 copies have been printed until 1612 in many editions and six different languages. Beside the Theatrum, Ortelius compiled a series of historical maps and published it in the Parergon Theatri which was bound with the Theatrum from 1579 onwards or published separately.
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Natoliae, quae olim Asia Minor Nova Descriptio - Aegypti Recentior Descriptio - Carthaginis...

    Antwerp, 1570

    Coloured copper engraved map of Turkey by A. Ortelius. On right side a map of Egypt and one of Tunis. Three map on one sheet printed from one plate. From the early 1570 Latin edition of 'Theatrum...

    Natoliae, quae olim Asia Minor Nova Descriptio - Aegypti Recentior...
    1570 - Abraham Ortelius
    10853

    Coloured map of Tunis, Egypt, Cyprus, Turkey. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1570.

    420,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Theatre, oft Toonneel des Aerdt-bodems

    Gielis Coppens van Diest, Antwerp, 1571/73

    Old colour example of the early title page from Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum . From the 1571 or 1573 Dutch edition.

    Theatre, oft Toonneel des Aerdt-bodems
    1571 - Abraham Ortelius
    12708

    Title page from the Ortelius Atlas. Printed 1571 in Antwerp.

    490,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Typus Orbis Terrarum, Americae sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio, Africae Tabula Nova, Asiae Nova...

    Gielis Coppens van Diest, Christoffel Plantin, Antwerp, 1573-1584

    Ortelius' World and Continents from the First Modern Atlas.A fine set consisting of a world map and four of the continents from the first modern atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham...

    Typus Orbis Terrarum, Americae sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio, Africae...
    1573 - Abraham Ortelius
    12683

    Old coloured world map and continent maps by Abraham Ortelius. Published in 1573-84 in Antwerp.

    18 000,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Basiliensis Territorii Descriptio Nova, Auctore Sebastiano Munstero / Circulus sive Liga Sueviae,...

    Antwerp, 1574

    Antique map of the area around Basel in Switzerland on sheet with a map of Swabia with the Lake of Constance (Bodensee) in South Germany. From a Latin edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by...

    Basiliensis Territorii Descriptio Nova, Auctore Sebastiano Munstero /...
    1574 - Abraham Ortelius
    11257

    Coloured map of Basel, Switzerland. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1574.

    450,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Candia Insula / Archipelagi Insularum Aliquot Descrip.

    Antwerp, 1584

    Beautiful original old coloured copper engraved map of Crete with 10 additional islands by A. Ortelius. Showing Crete and the islands Lesbos (Metellino), Kithira (Cerigo), Karpathos (Scarpanto),...

    Candia Insula / Archipelagi Insularum Aliquot Descrip.
    1584 - Abraham Ortelius
    11339

    Old coloured map of the Aegean Sea, Cyclades, Crete. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1584.

    750,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Larii Lacus vulgo Comensis Descriptio / Territorii Romani Descrip. / Fori Iulii vulgo Friuli Typus

    Antwerp, 1584

    Nice original old coloured map of Lake Como (Lago di Como), Rome (Roma) and surroundings and the region of Udine in the northern part of the Adriatic Sea by Abraham Ortelius. From the 1584 Latin...

    Larii Lacus vulgo Comensis Descriptio / Territorii Romani Descrip. /...
    1584 - Abraham Ortelius
    11351

    Old coloured map of Udine, Rome, Lake Como. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1584.

    600,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Russiae, Moscoviae et Tartariae Descriptio. Auctore Antonio Ienkensono Anglo, Edita Londini Anno...

    Antwerp, 1584

    Fascinating copper engraved map of Russia by A. Ortelius in stunning original colors. Showing the region from the Baltic Sea, Lithuania and the Black Sea to the Sur River, Tashkent, the Kossack...

    Russiae, Moscoviae et Tartariae Descriptio. Auctore Antonio Ienkensono...
    1584 - Abraham Ortelius
    11358

    Old coloured map of Siberia, Moscow. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1584.

    1 900,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio.

    Antwerp, 1587

    Beautiful original old coloured copper engraved map of six Mediterranean Island by A. Ortelius. Showing Malta, Sardinia, Sicily, Corfu, Elba and Djerba. From the 1587 French edition of Theatrum...

    Insularum Aliquot Maris Mediterranei Descriptio.
    1587 - Abraham Ortelius
    11312

    Old coloured map of Djerba, Elba, Corfu, Sicily, Sardinia, Malta. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1587.

    1 100,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Chinae, olim Sinarum Regionis, nova descriptio. Auctore Ludovico Georgio.

    A. Ortelius, Antwerp, circa 1587

    Ortelius' Stunning Map of China with Old Colour.Old coloured map of China by Abraham Ortelius. The map is oriented to the west, north is on the right side. This is the first map of China ever...

    Chinae, olim Sinarum Regionis, nova descriptio. Auctore Ludovico Georgio.
    1587 - Abraham Ortelius
    11521

    Old coloured map of China. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius circa 1587.

    3 400,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Illyricum

    Christoffel Plantin, Antwerp, 1588

    Old coloured antique map of the Western Balkans by Abraham Ortelius. Showing Croatia with Dalmatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Adriatic Sea. In the north to Carinthia and Hungary...

    Illyricum
    1588 - Abraham Ortelius
    12684

    Old coloured map of Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Western Balkans. Printed in Antwerp by Christoffel Plantin in 1588.

    750,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Parergon sive veteris geographiae

    Plantin Press, Antwerp, 1592

    A striking old colour example of the early woodcut title page from Ortelius' Parergon as part of the 1595 Latin edition of the Ortelius Atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum , heightened with gold.

    Parergon sive veteris geographiae
    1592 - Abraham Ortelius
    12707

    Title page from the Ortelius Atlas. Printed 1595 in Antwerp.

    690,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, et Vita

    Antwerp, circa 1595

    Rare edition of Ortelius' striking map of the Wanderings of Abraham.A rare edition of the historical map of the Holy Land by Abraham Ortelius, unusual without text on verso. Shows the land...

    Abrahami Patriarchae Peregrinatio, et Vita
    1595 - Abraham Ortelius
    11744

    Historical map of Israel, Canaan with the Wanderings of Abraham. Printed around 1595 in Antwerp.

    3 900,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Persici sive Sophorum Regni Typus

    Plantin Press, Antwerp, 1595

    Hand coloured antique map of Persia by Abraham Ortelius. With a beautiful title cartouche. Covering the area of today Iran with the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. From the 1595 edition of...

    Persici sive Sophorum Regni Typus
    1595 - Abraham Ortelius
    11898

    Coloured map of the Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea, Iran. Printed in Antwerp by Plantin Press in 1595.

    650,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Leodiensis Dioecesis Typus

    Plantin Press, Antwerp, 1598

    Antique map of the eastern part of Belgium by Abraham Ortelius. Shows the area from Weert and Roermond to Sedain and from Leuven (Louvain) to Limbourg. With Liège, Dinant, Maastricht and Namur....

    Leodiensis Dioecesis Typus
    1598 - Abraham Ortelius
    11905

    Coloured map of Belgium. Printed in Antwerp by Plantin Press in 1598.

    450,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Schlavoniae, Croatiae, Carniae, Istriae, Bosniae, Finitimarumque Regionum Nova Descriptio,...

    Plantin Press, Antwerp, 1598

    Old coloured antique map of the Western Balkans by Abraham Ortelius. Showing Croatia with Istria and Dalmatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina with the Adriatic Sea. In the north to Carinthia and...

    Schlavoniae, Croatiae, Carniae, Istriae, Bosniae, Finitimarumque...
    1598 - Abraham Ortelius
    12686

    Coloured map of Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Western Balkans. Printed in Antwerp by Plantin Press in 1598.

    650,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Daniae regni typus / Cimbricae Chersonesi nunc Iutiae

    Jan Baptist Vrients, Antwerp, 1602

    Antique map of Denmark by A. Ortelius. Two maps on one sheet. The left map shows the entire Kingdom of Denmark with Schleswig-Holstein and the Baltic coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the south....

    Daniae regni typus / Cimbricae Chersonesi nunc Iutiae
    1602 - Abraham Ortelius
    12763

    Antique map of Denmark. Printed in Antwerp by Jan Baptist Vrients in 1602.

    590,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Oldenburg Comit. / Thietmarsiae, Holsaticae Regionis Partis Typus

    A. Ortelius, Antwerp, 1603

    Old coloured antique map of Oldenburg country and Dithmarschen by A. Ortelius. Two maps on one sheet. The right map shows the Oldenburg country between Weser and East Friesland from Bremen to Jever...

    Oldenburg Comit. / Thietmarsiae, Holsaticae Regionis Partis Typus
    1603 - Abraham Ortelius
    11856

    Old coloured map of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius in 1603.

    490,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Germaniae Veteris, Typus.

    A. Ortelius, Antwerp, 1603

    Old coloured, antique map of Germany and the central part of Europe during the classical antiquity by Abraham Ortelius. With Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and parts of Switzerland, Poland and...

    Germaniae Veteris, Typus.
    1603 - Abraham Ortelius
    11859

    Old coloured map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius in 1603.

    420,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Oldenburg Comit. / Thietmarsiae, Holsaticae Regionis Partis Typus

    A. Ortelius, Antwerp, 1609-41

    Old coloured antique map of Oldenburg country and Dithmarschen by A. Ortelius. Two maps on one sheet. The right map shows the Oldenburg country between Weser and East Friesland from Bremen to Jever...

    Oldenburg Comit. / Thietmarsiae, Holsaticae Regionis Partis Typus
    1609 - Abraham Ortelius
    11847

    Old coloured map of Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius in 1609.

    450,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Palatinatus Bavariae Descriptio / Argentoratensis Agri Descriptio

    A. Ortelius, Antwerp, 1609-41

    Antique map of Upper Palatinate and the area around Strasbourg by A. Ortelius. Two maps on one sheet. The right map shows the Upper Rhine around Strasbourg with parts of the Alsace and the Black...

    Palatinatus Bavariae Descriptio / Argentoratensis Agri Descriptio
    1609 - Abraham Ortelius
    11849

    Antique map of Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius in 1609.

    350,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Pontus Euxinus

    Jan Baptist Vrients, Antwerp, 1609 or 1612

    Very decorative antique map of the Black Sea by Abraham Ortelius. Showing the Black Sea with Ukraine, Crimea and the adjacent countries. With two beautiful Renaissance cartouches. Dated 1590, from...

    Pontus Euxinus
    1609 - Abraham Ortelius
    12672

    Coloured map of the Crimea, Ukraine, Black Sea. Printed in Antwerp by Jan Baptist Vrients between 1609 and 1612.

    650,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Lutzenburgen sis Ducatus Veriss. Descript. Iacobo Surhonio Montano auctore.

    Jan Baptist Vrients, Antwerp, 1609

    Antique map of Luxembourg by Abraham Ortelius. In the east the Moselle from Metz to Trier, in the west the Meuse with Namur and Charleville-Mézières. Decorated with two beautiful cartouches. First...

    Lutzenburgen sis Ducatus Veriss. Descript. Iacobo Surhonio Montano auctore.
    1609 - Abraham Ortelius
    12687

    Coloured map of Luxembourg. Printed in Antwerp by Jan Baptist Vrients in 1609.

    690,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Abrahami Ortelii - Theatri Orbis Terrarum Parergon, Sive Veteris Geographiae Tabulae

    Balthasar Moretus, Antwerp, 1624

    A striking example of the title page from Ortelius' Parergon. From the final edition of the Parergon which was published as a separate book by Balthasar Moretus in 1624. It was also bound...

    Abrahami Ortelii - Theatri Orbis Terrarum Parergon, Sive Veteris...
    1624 - Abraham Ortelius
    12716

    Title page from the Ortelius Atlas. Printed 1624 in Antwerp.

    450,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Germania.

    A. Ortelius, Antwerp, 1570

    Old coloured map of Germany by A. Ortelius. Decorated with three cartouches and a galleon. First state from the 1570 Latin edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum .

    Germania.
    1570 - Abraham Ortelius
    11526

    Old coloured map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius in 1570.

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