America sive Novi Orbis, nova descriptio

Attribution:

Abraham Ortellius

Date:

1574

Description:

Abraham Ortelius’ Theater of the Orb of the World, first published in 1570, is the first world atlas—a collection of maps specifically engraved to be bound as a book. Its success was immediate: twenty-five editions were produced by the time of the compiler’s death in 1598. Ortelius was fortunate to be based in the port city of Antwerp, Belgium, where he had access to travelers, books on travel, and the most talented engravers in Europe.

Bib. Reference:

Theatrvm orbis terrarvm (Antwerp: Ant. Coppenium Diesth)

Bancroft call number:

f G113 .O8 1574

Digital image courtesy of:

University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections