The 1595 Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, held by the Istituto Geografico Militare in Florence, represents the pinnacle of Abraham Ortelius’s cartographic achievements. Considered the first modern atlas, it followed his initial 1570 Antwerp edition and embodies over two decades of compiling the geographical knowledge of the known world. The work presents 147 engraved plates, including extraordinary historical maps depicting routes from literature, mythology, and tradition. Its text serves as a geographical-cartographic encyclopedia, detailing projection methods and referencing prominent cartographers. Celebrated for both its scientific accuracy and artistic quality, the atlas was highly influential, though few complete copies survive today due to its historical dismemberment by collectors.
We have 1 facsimile edition of the manuscript "Ortelius Atlas in Florence": Theatrum Orbis Terrarum facsimile edition, published by Giunti Editore, 1991
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