Abraham OrteliusAMERICAE - Sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio1587 (1603)
1587 (1603)
About the Item
- Creator:Abraham Ortelius (1527 - 1598, Dutch)
- Creation Year:1587 (1603)
- Dimensions:Height: 14.25 in (36.2 cm)Width: 19.25 in (48.9 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:
- Gallery Location:Santa Monica, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU41138431632
Abraham Ortelius
Abraham Ortelius is widely recognized as the inventor of the atlas and one of the most prominent geographers in history. He is one of the best known and most frequently collected of all sixteenth-century mapmakers, and today, hand-colored, copperplate-printed Abraham Ortelius maps continue to command avid interest.
Ortelius was the eldest of the three children of an Antwerp merchant. After his father's death when he was ten, he was raised by his uncle Jacob Van Meteren — a financier and printer of early English versions of the Bible. Ortelius entered the Guild of Saint Luke in 1547 to become a map copier and colorist, but his hobbies overshadowed his studies.
Ortelius was better known as a student of history and a collector of books and old coins than a cartographer — only initially garnering modest praise for his skills at mapmaking. Gleaning what he learned from his uncle, he became a dealer in books and prints. In 1554 he attended the annual Frankfurt Book Fair, where he met the highly respected cartographer Gerardus Mercator.
Ortelius refocused his work in mapmaking after that fateful encounter. He eventually published Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theater of the World) — a comprehensive collection of maps that he bound into a book. It was the first of its kind and is now recognized as the first modern-day atlas. While creating his atlas, Ortelius observed that the coast of America shared geometrical similarities with the shores of Europe and Africa. When he lined up maps of the coastlines of the continents, they matched — much like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.
Some have argued that the concept of continental drift is at least partly rooted in Ortelius’s 16th-century-era suggestion that the continents had once been joined together as a single mass of land before the Americas were pulled away from Europe and Africa. Much later, in 1912, German meteorologist Alfred Wegener proposed in a lecture and an article that the continents had once been locked together based on data he collected. Wegener was widely ridiculed at the time, but the foundation of modern-day science of plate tectonics has its origins in his work.
On May 18, 2008, a Google Doodle celebrated the 300th anniversary of Ortelius’s atlas.
On 1stDibs, find original Abraham Ortelius prints, landscape prints and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Santa Monica, CA
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- PERUBy Johannes JanssonLocated in Santa Monica, CAJOHANNES JANSSON (1588 - 1664) PERU, engraving with early coloring. Platemark 15 1/8 x 19 3/8 inches, sheet 17 x 20 1/2 A nice example of one of the earliest maps of Peru. From the ...Category
1630s Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- New Map of the Terraqueous Globe - WORLD MAP - CALIFORNIA AS AN ISLANDBy Edward WellsLocated in Santa Monica, CAEDWARD WELLS (British 1667- 1727) A NEW MAP of the TERRAQUEOUS GLOBE - according to the latest Discoveries and most general Divisions of it into CONTINENTS and OCEANS, 1700-01 (Shirley 609) Engraved by Michael Burghers, Oxford. Hand-colored, Platemark 14 1/4 x 20 1/8 inches. Central cartouche flanked by figures representing the continents with dedication to William, Duke of Gloucester...Category
Early 1700s Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- THE DRAGON ARUMBy Dr. Robert John ThorntonLocated in Santa Monica, CADR. ROBERT JOHN THORNTON (circa 1768- 1837) THE DRAGON ARUM, 1801 (Dunthorne plate 161, pg. 250 i/iii; Nissen 1 955) Mezzotint printed in Payne's grey...Category
Early 1800s Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsMezzotint
- AMERICABy John SpeedLocated in Santa Monica, CAIMPORTANT AMERICAN MAP - ONE OF THE FIRST TO SHOW CALIFORNIA as an ISLAND JOHN SPEED (1552-1629) AMERICA - With Those Known Parts In That Unknown Worlde (sic), 1626-(76) (Burden 217 iv/iv) Engraving, uncolored. Engraved by Abraham Goos and published by Thomas Basset and Richard Chiswell - 4th state of 4 in 1676 15 1/8 x 20 1/2” From “A Prospect of the Most Famous Parts of the World”. Generally good condition. A repaired split in lower centerfold. This is the most common version of this important map...Category
1620s Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- The Deluge - JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER (1775 - 1851)By Joseph Mallord William TurnerLocated in Santa Monica, CA(after) JOSEPH MALLORD WILLIAM TURNER (1775 - 1851) THE DELUGE, 1828. Mezzotint, Engraved by I. P. Quilly after a painting by J. M.W. Turner R.A.. Image ...Category
1820s Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsMezzotint
- WORLD MAP - Planisphaerium Terrestre Sive Terrarum Orbis... 1696By Carel AllardLocated in Santa Monica, CACAREL ALLARD (1648 – 1709) PLANISPHAERIUM TERRESTRE SIVE TERRARUM ORBIS… 1696 (Shirley 578) Engraving, 20 ½ x 23 ½”, sheet 21 x 24 1/8". A stunning double hemisphere World Map...Category
17th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- Cartusia Bruxellensis Monastery in Brussels: A 17th C. Hand-colored EngravingBy Lucas Vorsterman the YoungerLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a 17th century hand-colored copperplate engraving entitled "Cartusia Bruxellensis" by Lucas Vorsterman, the Younger, after a drawing by Jacob van Werden or Jacques van Weerden, published in 1659 in Antonius Sanderus' book 'Chorographia sacra Brabantiae sive celebrium aliquot in ea provincia ecclesiarum et coenobiorum descriptio . . . Brussel' (A sacred chorography of Brabant, or a description of several famous churches and convents in that province). It also appeared in other publications by Sanderus. In the 17th century, Brussels was within the Duchy of Brabant. This engraving depicts a bird's-eye view of the Scheut Carthusian Monastery in Brussels. Scheut is a district of Anderlecht, a municipality of Brussels, Belgium. The monastery housed monks, who took a vow of silence, in 20 rooms. There is a central courtyard with trees and shrubs. Monks are depicted strolling along its pathways. The cells for the friars are in the middle the cloister. There are people along the streets in the foreground and to the right of the large, imposing monastery. Some are on horseback, others are walking. In the lower right, what appears to be a dog pulls a small cart containing barrels, possibly of beer or wine. Districts and neighborhoods are labelled in the background, including Scheut, Anderlecht and Ransfort. A very ornate cartouche in the lower left contains Latin and the artist's attribution. Another decorative cartouche in the upper central area contains the title. This beautifully hand-colored and detailed engraving is printed on laid, chain-linked paper with wide, full margins. The sheet measures 17.25" high and 21.25" wide. It has Latin text on the verso. It has a central vertical fold, as issued, which is reinforced on the verso. Two small spots in the lower margin may actually represent drops of watercolor paint used to color the engraving. It is otherwise in very good condition. Antonius Sanderus (1586-1664) was a Flemish Catholic cleric and historian. He was born "Antoon Sanders", but Latinized his name like many writers and scholars of his time. He was the author of several books, including 'Chorographia Sacra Brabantiae', which was illustrated with this engraving. Lucas Vorsterman the Younger (1624-between 1666 & 1676) was a Flemish Baroque engraver and draughtsman. He produced engravings after the work of contemporary painters and for books by Antwerp publishers. Jacob van Werden or Jacques van Weerden (active 1643-1669), was a Flemish draughtsman, cartographer, military engineer and archer who was active in the Habsburg Netherlands. His drawings were used as designs for prints executed by various printmakers. He worked on maps, topographical views, historical scenes, portraits and book illustrations. He had a career as a military engineer and a member of the guard of the Spanish King. He advised on various military engineering projects and was an engineer of the Spanish army...Category
Mid-17th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- Bermuda: An Early 17th Century Hand-colored Map by Henricus HondiusBy Henricus HondiusLocated in Alamo, CAThis attractive and interesting map of Bermuda by Henricus Hondius in 1633 is entitled "Mappa Aestivarum Insularum, Alias Barmudas". It is based on a ...Category
Early 17th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- L'Isle de France: A Hand-colored 17th Century Map by De WitBy Frederick de WitLocated in Alamo, CAThis colorful and detailed 17th century hand-colored copperplate map by Frederick De Wit was published in Amsterdam between 1666 and 1760. The map depicts the Île-de-France, which is one of the ancient provinces of France. Paris is located in the center of the map, with Versailles to the southwest The map extends from Rouen in the west to Reims in the east. The area around Paris, the Véxin Français, was the original domain of the king of France. Other areas were ruled by French feudal lords. For example, the Véxin Normand area was the domain of the Duke of Normandy...Category
Early 18th Century Old Masters More Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- Map of the Russian Empire: An Original 18th Century Hand-colored Map by E. BowenLocated in Alamo, CAThis is an original 18th century hand-colored map entitled "A New & Accurate Map of The Whole Russian Empire, As Contain'd Both In Europe and Asia, Drawn from Authentic Journals, Sur...Category
Mid-18th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- View of Emden, Germany: A 16th Century Hand-colored Map by Braun & HogenbergBy Franz HogenbergLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a 16th century original hand-colored copperplate engraved map of a bird's-eye View of Embden, Germany entitled " Emuda, vulgo Embden vrbs Frisia orientalis primaria" by Georg Braun & Franz Hogenberg, in volume II of their famous city atlas "Civitates Orbis Terrarum", published in Cologne, Germany in 1575. This is a beautifully colored and detailed map of Emden, a seaport in northwestern Germany, along the Ems River and perhaps portions of over Dollart Bay, near the border with the Netherland. The map depicts a bird's-eye view of the city from the southwest, as well as a view of the harbor and an extensive system of canals. Numerous ships of various sizes, as well as two rowboats containing numerous occupants are seen in the main waterway in the foreground and additional boats line two canals in the center of the city. Two men and two women are shown on a hill in the foreground on the right, dressed in the 16th century style of nobility. Two ornate crests are included in each corner. A title strap-work cartouche is in the upper center with the title in Latin. The crest on the right including Engelke up de Muer (The Little Angel on the Wall) was granted by Emperor Maximilian I in 1495. This is an English translation of an excerpt of Braun's description of Embden: "In Emden, the capital of East Frisia, rich merchants live in very fine houses. The city has a broad and well-situated harbour, which in my opinion is unique in Holland. Frisia and the whole of the Netherlands, for the ships can anchor here right under the city walls. They have also extended the harbour as far as the New Town, so that up to 400 ships can now find shelter here when the sea is rough." The emphasis on the harbor and waterways within the city highlights the importance of Emden's place as a seaport at this time. Embden developed from a Dutch/Flemish trading settlement in the 7th-8th centuries into a city as late as late 14th century. In 1494 it was granted staple rights, and in 1536 the harbour was extended. In the mid-16th century Emden's port was thought to have the most ships in Europe. Its population then was about 5,000, rising to 15,000 by the end of the 16th century. The Ems River flowed directly under the city walls, but its course was changed in the 17th century by the construction of a canal. Emden has canals within its city limits, a typical feature of Dutch towns, which also enabled the extension of the harbor. In 1744 Emden was annexed by Prussia and is now part of Germany. It was captured by French forces in 1757 during the Seven Years' War, but recaptured by Anglo-German forces in 1758. During the Napoleonic French era, Emden and the surrounding lands of East Frisia were part of the short-lived Kingdom of Holland. References:Van der Krogt 4, 1230, State 2; Taschen, Braun and Hogenberg...Category
16th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving
- Ireland: A Framed 17th Century Hand-colored Map by Jan JannsonBy Johannes JanssoniusLocated in Alamo, CAThis is a 17th century hand-colored map entitled "Hibernia Regnum Vulgo Ireland" by Johannes Janssonius's (Jan Jansson), published in Amsterdam in 1640. This highly detailed map depicts the Emerald Isle with an extensive display of towns, roads, mountains, rivers, lakes and county borders, etc. It includes two decorative cartouches on the left. The title cartouche includes the Irish harp and the second, in the upper left, includes a lion wearing a crown on the left, a unicorn on the right and a coat-of-arms in the middle, which includes another Irish harp. A distance scale is seen in the lower right, augmented with two putti. The map is embellished with three sailing ships and a sea monster. Western portions of Scotland and England...Category
Mid-17th Century Old Masters Landscape Prints
MaterialsEngraving