HIGHLY DECORATIVE MAP OF ITALY AND MEDITERRANEAN SEA by Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598). Original hand coloured copper engraving in very good condition, taken directly from the original volumes, with wide and original margins, no particular cuts or defects to report, normal signs of aging, strong heavy paper with chain lines and a watermark as the photos show. This beautiful map depicts ITALY AND THE BIGGEST ISLANDS LIKE SARDINIA, SICILY AND CORSICA and part of the coast of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Albania, as it was known in the 1570’s. This is the French edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum with French text on verso. According to Van Den Broecke Ortelius used Giacomo Gastaldi's 1543 Venice-published map of Italy as a source, and according to Philip Burden, Gastaldi's 1548 edition of Ptolemy's Geography, "was the most comprehensive atlas produced between Martin Waldseemüller's Geographia of 1513, and the Abraham Ortelius Theatrum of 1570. Title: Italiae Novissima Descriptio Auctore Iacobo Castaldo Pedemontano (Latest Description of Italy by Giacomo Castaldi Piedmontese). Published in Antwerp by Plantin Press in 1587, and in only 250 copies as claimed by Dr. Marcel van den Broecke (Cartographica Neerlandica). Size & Description: Height 430 x Width 564 mm (16.9 x 22.2 inches). Centre fold as published. Original intact and wide margins. The map is in very good condition with beautiful colours and minor signs of age and use, wide and intact margins, the laid paper is watermarked with a coat of arms. Very detailed map, rich in precious decorations and cartouches, the sea is crossed by ancient ships and monsters, there is a reference to mythology with the figure of the God Neptune emerging with a sea nymph from the Mediterranean Sea, the title of map and the author's name are in the top right corner. Rare decorative map of Italy and Mediterranean Sea from Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, the first modern atlas of the world. Author/Cartographer: Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598) was a Brabantian cartographer, geographer, and cosmographer, conventionally recognized as the creator of the first modern atlas, the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the World). Along with Gemma Frisius and Gerardus Mercator, Ortelius is generally considered one of the founders of the Netherlandish school of cartography and geography. He was a notable figure of this school in its golden age (approx. 1570s–1670s) and an important geographer of Spain during the age of discovery. The publication of his atlas in 1570 is often considered as the official beginning of the Golden Age of Netherlandish cartography. He was the first person proposing that the continents were joined before drifting to their present positions. References: Van der Krogt 3 - 7000:31B; Borri - #45; Van den Broecke - #118; Koeman/Meurer: 112. Shipping: via UPS, DHL, National Postal Services, protected, INSURED and fully tracked package. Estimated time for Europe 3-5 working days. Shipping within one working day, you can combine shipping if you purchases several items from us, saving money and time.