Burgundiae [Burgundy] Comitatus Recentiss. Descriptio D - Abraham Ortelius 1585 - Antwerpen A handsome early and large map of Burgundy by the great engraver ad cartographer Abraham Ortelius [map size 36.5 x 50.5 cm], based on the 1563 map of Ferdinand de Lannoy that was suppressed by the Spaniards for political reasons. With place names mainly in French, some in Latin, titles and scale in Latin.

With contemporary hand colouring, and embellished with elaborate strapwork title cartouche and coat of arms. Showing rivers, mountains, forests, fortifications, towns and cities. From Ortelius’ ‘
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum’.

The orientation is from
Oriens or East (top) to Occidens or West (bottom), Septemtrio (the seven stars of Ursa Major) or North (left) to Meridies or South (right).

Finely framed in gilt wood, acid free boarder and backing, and Tru-Vue 98% UV glass [frame size 57 x 71 cm].
  Abraham Ortelius [1527-98] is known for his Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, one of the first major atlases. He accelerated the movement away from Ptolemaic geographical conceptions.

Born Abraham Ortels of German parents in Antwerp on April 14, 1527, he was trained as an engraver, worked as an illuminator of maps, and by 1554 was in the business of selling maps and antiquities. This business involved extensive travelling, which enabled Ortelius to make contacts with the international community of scholars concerned with exploration and cartography and especially with English experts like Richard Hakluyt and John Dee. From these sources Ortelius obtained cartographical materials and information; he also collected and published maps by his fellow Flemish geographer Gerhardus Mercator.

Ortelius began issuing various maps in the 1560s. Among these were maps of Egypt, Asia, and the world. The
Theatrum orbis terrarum (1570) consisted of 70 maps on 53 sheets. There was a world map and maps of the continents of Africa and Asia. Europe, however, was the area most completely surveyed. In 1573 an Additamenta (atlas supplement) was issued. Later editions of both atlas and supplement were revised and expanded. By 1624 the Theatrum had run through 40 editions and had grown to 166 maps. It appeared in Latin and translations into Dutch, German, French, Spanish, and English.

Reference: Marcel van den Broecke,
Ortelius Atlas Maps 51.
  Condition:   Ref: 103068   Price: HK$ 15,000