Peruviae Auriferae Regionis Typus, La Florida, Guastecan
ORTELIUS, Abraham

Peruviae Auriferae Regionis Typus, La Florida, Guastecan

Antwerp
1584
Size : 55,5 x 41,3 cm
Color : Uncolored
Condition : Light marginal spotting
Technique : Copper engraving
Reference : CPV-45-69
€800.00

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Description

Ortelius' maps of Guastecan, Peru, and Florida printed separately for the first time.

Three maps on one sheet depicting different regions of central and Southern America. It includes the landmark map of Florida by Ortelius who was the first to print a separate map of that region. Other than Florida, the sheet includes a map of Peruvian region of New Spain, extending from Central America to the Tropic of Capricorn, the ocean here is decorated with vessels clearly sailing towards Spanish territories; and finally a map of the Guastecan region encompassing a part of central Mexico and the Mexican Gulf. All three maps include large decorative title cartouches, that of Guastecan is topped with a bull's head, that of the Peruvian region mentions: "Didacus Mendezius" Don Diego Hurtado de Mendez, a philologist, and that of Florida mentions Geronimo de Chaves, the Royal Cosmographer to Philip II of Spain and member of the Casa de la Contratación.

This map was included in the supplement of Ortelius' atlas of the world Theatrum Orbis Terrarum: Additamentum published in 1584. It later appeared in all future editions of this atlas.

Van den Broecke, 15 ;  Burden, 57 pp.73 ; Van der Krogt, III-1, 9820-9440-9540:31

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.