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:  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:  Typus Orbis Terrarum

    Plantin Press, Antwerp, 1598

    An old coloured and early example of one of the most famous world maps ever published. From the first modern atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius. "As the first world map occurring...

    Typus Orbis Terrarum
    1598 - Abraham Ortelius
    12786

    Antique map of the world by Abraham Ortelius. Published in 1598 in Antwerp.

    5 900,00 €
  • Abraham Ortelius:  Poloniae, Lituaniaeq. Descriptio.

    Antwerp, 1601

    Beautiful antique map of Poland by Abraham Ortelius. From the first modern atlas, the famous Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Ortelius, first published in 1570. Embellished with elaborate details and...

    Poloniae, Lituaniaeq. Descriptio.
    1601 - Abraham Ortelius
    12935

    Antique map of Poland. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1601.

    1 200,00 €
  • 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:  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:  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:  Germaniae Veteris, Typus.

    Balthasar Moretus, Antwerp, 1624

    Historical map of Germany and the central part of Europe during antiquity by Abraham Ortelius. With Germany, the Netherlands, Austria and parts of Switzerland, Poland and Hungary. In the south to...

    Germaniae Veteris, Typus.
    1624 - Abraham Ortelius
    12949

    Antique map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by Balthasar Moretus in 1624.

    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.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Tartariae sive Magni Chami Regni Typus

    Antwerp, 1570

    First state of the Tartary map by A. Ortelius. Showing large part of Asia from Black Sea with Russia, parts of China, a curious early treatment of Japan and an early treatment of the West Coast of...

    Tartariae sive Magni Chami Regni Typus
    1570 - Abraham Ortelius
    11686

    Coloured map of the Tartary. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1570.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus

    Gielis van Diest, Antwerp, 1570

    Rare first edition, first state of Ortelius' striking map of Southeast Asia.Rare and important first edition of the beautiful Southeast Asia map of Abraham Ortelius. From the first 'modern'...

    Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus
    1570 - Abraham Ortelius
    11762

    Antique map of Southeast Asia. Printed in Antwerp by Gielis van Diest in 1570.

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

    Gielis Coppens van Diest, Antwerp, 1570

    From the first edition of the Ortelius Atlas of 1570.The rare first edition of Ortelius' map of Russia. From the 1570 Latin edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum published by Gielis Coppens...

    Russiae, Moscoviae et Tartariae Descriptio. Auctore Antonio Ienkensono...
    1570 - Abraham Ortelius
    12411

    Coloured map of Russia. Printed in Antwerp by Gielis Coppens van Diest in 1570.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Typus Orbis Terrarum

    Gielis Coppens van Diest, Antwerp, 1570 [1572]

    The first World Map in the First Regular Atlas - with Old Colours.A fine old coloured and early example of one of the most famous world maps ever published. From the first modern atlas...

    Typus Orbis Terrarum
    1570 - Abraham Ortelius
    12681

    Antique map of the world by Abraham Ortelius. Published in 1572 in Antwerp.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Germania

    Gielis Coppens van Diest, Antwerp, 1571

    Antique map of the central part of Europe by Abraham Ortelius. With the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, in the east parts of Poland and Hungary in the south to Venice. Below the...

    Germania
    1571 - Abraham Ortelius
    12091

    Coloured map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by Gielis Coppens van Diest in 1571.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Germania

    A. Ortelius, Antwerp, 1572-73

    Antique map of the central part of Europe by Abraham Ortelius. With the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, in the east parts of Poland and Hungary in the south to Venice. Below the...

    Germania
    1572 - Abraham Ortelius
    11853

    Coloured map of Germany. Printed in Antwerp by A. Ortelius in 1572.

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

    Antwerp, 1573

    Beautiful original coloured 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 the 1573 Latin edition of Theatrum...

    Basiliensis Territorii Descriptio Nova, Auctore Sebastiano Munstero /...
    1573 - Abraham Ortelius
    10162

    Coloured map of Basel, Switzerland. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1573.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Circulus sive Liga Sueviae, vulgo Schwabische Kraiss

    Antwerp, circa 1573

    Beautiful coloured map of Swabia with the Lake of Constance (Bodensee) in South Germany of A. Ortelius. From an edition of 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum' by Abraham Ortelius. The origin of this maps is...

    Circulus sive Liga Sueviae, vulgo Schwabische Kraiss
    1573 - Abraham Ortelius
    11196

    Coloured map of the Lake Constance, Swabia, Baden-Wurttemberg. Printed in Antwerp circa 1573.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Helvetiae Descriptio Aegidio Tschudo Auct.

    Antwerp, 1574

    Decorative coloured map of Switzerland by A. Ortelius. With one cartouche and a mileage scale. Covering complete Switzerland with the Lake Constance and Lake Geneva. From the latin edition of the...

    Helvetiae Descriptio Aegidio Tschudo Auct.
    1574 - Abraham Ortelius
    10873

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

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

    Antwerp, 1574

    Beautiful original coloured 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...

    Basiliensis Territorii Descriptio Nova, Auctore Sebastiano Munstero /...
    1574 - Abraham Ortelius
    11158

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

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Descriptio Germaniae Inferioris

    Gillis van den Rade, Antwerp, 1575

    Old coloured antique map of the Low Countries with the Netherlands and Belgium by Abraham Ortelius. Shows the area from The Hague to Cologne and from Emden to Paris. Above a title band held by two...

    Descriptio Germaniae Inferioris
    1575 - Abraham Ortelius
    11903

    Old coloured map of the Low Countries with Belgium and the Netherlands. Printed in Antwerp by Gillis van den Rade in 1575.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Africae Tabula Nova

    Gillis van den Rade, Antwerp, 1575

    Antique map of Africa by Abraham Ortelius. From the 1575 Latin edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Abraham Ortelius. Second state of the plate, still the date 1570 is present in the cartouche...

    Africae Tabula Nova
    1575 - Abraham Ortelius
    12410

    Coloured map of the African continent. Printed in Antwerp by Gillis van den Rade in 1575.

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

    Antwerp, 1578

    Beautiful original coloured 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 the 1578 Latin edition of Theatrum...

    Basiliensis Territorii Descriptio Nova, Auctore Sebastiano Munstero /...
    1578 - Abraham Ortelius
    10163

    Coloured map of Basel, Switzerland. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1578.

  • Abraham Ortelius:  Moraviae, quae olim Marcomannoarum Sedes, Corographia

    Antwerp, 1579

    Showing Moravia in Czech Republic. From the 1579 Latin edition of "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum".

    Moraviae, quae olim Marcomannoarum Sedes, Corographia
    1579 - Abraham Ortelius
    10056

    Antique map of Moravia. Printed in Antwerp in the year 1579.

Accept We use cookies to optimize and continuously improve our website. By continuing to use this website, you agree to the use of cookies. Further information on cookies can be found in our Privacy Statement.