R3,000 - R4,000
Abraham Ortelius - PORTVGALLIAE
QUE OLIM LUSITANIA, NOVISSIMA E EXACTISSIMA DESCRIPTIO, AUCTORE VERNANDO ALUARO SECCO
Uncoloured copperplate engraving. Centre fold. Latin text on verso.
Image 34 x 50cm, on sheet 40 x 53cm
Map of Portugal, also called Lusitania, from the “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum,” first published by Abraham Ortelius in Antwerp in 1570, based upon Vernando Aluaro Secco’s two-sheet map of Portugal. This highly detailed map shows Portugal in the late 16th century, at one of the peaks of its power, and provides a very ornate view of the country, with a sea-monster, two sailing ships, and two, very ornate cartouches.
Abraham Ortelius (1527 –1598) was an Antwerp based cartographer best known for the publication in 1570 of the first modern atlas, the “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum,” covering the contemporary cartographic knowledge. He personally drew the maps, which were then engraved by Ambrosius and Ferdinand Arsenius and Frans Hogenberg. The atlas was published between 1570 and 1612 in 31 editions, with text in Latin, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and English, the 1570 edition having 70 maps on 53 sheets, and the 1612 edition having 167. After Ortelius's death the copper plates passed to his heirs, then in 1601 sold to Jan Baptist Vrients which added new maps.
Condition: Good. Small sections of bottom corners and sides are missing, and small sectons of the map are also missing at the bottom corners and sides. Small sticker to bottom left-hand corner, and small note in pencil to bottom right-hand corner. Slight discolouration, and a few small spots of wrinkling, small stains and foxing to map. Minor foxing and note in pencil to verso. Map has been professionally mounted.
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:| 1 to 10000: | 23% inc VAT* |
| 10001+: | 19.55% inc VAT* |
| 1 to 10000: | 23% inc VAT* |
| 10001+: | 19.55% inc VAT* |
