Large folio (480 x 300mm). Text in Latin. Engraved title, coat of arms, epigraph and portrait of Ortelius, all coloured by a contemporary hand with gilded detailing, 118 plates, all coloured by a contemporary hand, all woodcut initials coloured by a contemporary hand (some light, variable spotting and offsetting, marginal spitting, a few repaired tears). [Bound with:] – Parergon sive veteris geographiae aliquot tabula. Engraved title and 38 plates, all coloured by a contemporary hand (some light spotting and offsetting, a few small tears). [Bound with:] – Nomenclator ptolemaicus. Title page with hand-coloured vignette. Modern red morocco. Provenance: inscription in Latin on dedication page signed ‘D.L.V.M.C.’ Antwerp Jan Baptist Vrients, 1603.
One of the largest and finest editions of Ortelius’s Theatrum, comprising 156 plates handsomely coloured by a contemporary hand. Ortelius, geographer to King Philip II of Spain, is credited with having authored the first modern atlas, the Theatrum orbis terrarum. Following Ortelius’ death, his copperplates were acquired by the map engraver and publisher Jan Baptist Vrients (1552-1613), who published the present Latin edition in 1603 with the printer Robert Bruneau (see colophon of the Nomenclator), adding several new maps including England and Germany (Van Den Broecke 20 and 57).
Van der Krogt IIIA, 31:053.
