Africae Tabula Nova
Africae Tabula Nova
ORTELIUS, Abraham

Africae Tabula Nova

1587
Size : 55,5 x 44,5 cm
Color : Coloris original
Condition : Bon
Technique : Copper engraving
Reference : 513-3
€1,100.00

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Description

Beautiful map of Africa by Abraham Ortelius in a very nice period color. Based on Giacomo Gastaldi's large 8-sheet wall map of Africa published in 1564 and Gerard Mercator's 1569 map of Africa, Ortelius' Africae Tabula Nova is the first map to include accurate information from European expeditions in parts of the African interior.

The map extends from the coast of Brazil to the Arabian Peninsula and is centered on Africa. It is decorated with a beautiful cartouche, sea monsters, and a battle with three ships in the lower right corner. The map was published in the 1587 edition of Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, of which only 250 copies were printed. Some stains.

ORTELIUS, Abraham

Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) was a Renaissance cartographer and geographer, considered to be one of the founders of modern cartography. He was born in 1527 in Antwerp, then part of the Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium). Ortelius began his career as a map colourist, buying maps and colouring them before selling them on. His early interest in cartography soon developed into a passion for scientific geography.

During his travels, particularly in the company of renowned geographers such as Gerard Mercator, Ortelius acquired an in-depth knowledge of geography. It was thanks to these travels and his encounters with other scholars that he was inspired to create his most famous work, the "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum".

Ortelius published his first major work, a world map in eight sheets, in 1564. He continued to produce various maps, including one of Egypt in 1565, a plan of Brittenburg Castle on the coast of the Netherlands, and a map of Asia, before publishing his masterpiece in 1570.

Ortelius' "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum" is considered to be the first true modern atlas. In its first edition of 1570, it contained 53 maps, but was rapidly expanded with each successive edition. This revolutionary atlas harmonised the formats and styles of maps available at the time, while retaining the names of the maps' original authors. Ortelius also created a catalogue of map authors, updated from edition to edition, to recognise the contributions of numerous geographers.

The success of the "Theatrum" greatly contributed to the spread of geographical culture in Europe at the end of the 16th century. After Ortelius's death in 1598, his atlas continued to be published and improved by other editors, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of cartography.