Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

Theater of the Universal World by Abraham Ortelio [Printed text]/by Abraham Ortelio, Cosmographer of Our Royal Highness, with declarations translated from Latin. Flemish erudite and merchant Abraham Ortelio (Antwerp, 1527–97), cosmographer of King Philip II, is the creator of this atlas, a collection of all cartographic information known about the world at the time. Ortelio used 87 maps created by other travelers and cartographers, and included comments about each map, an index, and a nomenclature with the ancient place names in Latin and their modern equivalents in his work. The first edition of the Theatrum was published in 1570. It was so well received that up to 40 editions were edited in different languages in a short space of time, with addendums and supplements being published that added more maps. The 1588 edition, printed in the production workshops of French humanist Cristóbal Plantino, is lavishly illustrated with intaglio plates colored by hand, measuring 11.8 x 17.5 inches (450 x 300 mm). Ortelio's atlas introduced a new cartographic concept for the modern world.