Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

The Theatrum Orbis Terrarum is considered the first modern atlas. It was created by Abraham Ortelius and first published on May 20, 1570 in Antwerp (Belgium).

From its first edition, the atlas was regularly revised and extended by its creator in successive issues and formats in which it was published, until his death in 1598. Its first edition in 1570 originally contained 70 maps and 87 bibliographic references. Over its 31 editions, the atlas grew to include 183 references and 167 maps by the year 1612. It was also published in six different languages: Dutch (1571), German (1572), French (1572), Spanish (1588), English (1606), and Italian (1608). Five supplements were also published, which Ortelius called Additamenta.

In 1629, Willem Blaeu extended his collection of maps by buying one of the sheets used by Abraham Ortelius for the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. In the years that followed, the Blaeu family continued publishing the work of Abraham Ortelius under a similar title: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, Sive, Atlas Novus. This atlas, in its multiple editions and extensions at the hand of the Blaeu family, has become known as the Atlas Novus, or—more generally—Atlas Maior.