{"product_id":"abraham-ortelius-magnificent-renaissance-map-of-spain-and-portugal-circa-1573-1612","title":"Abraham Ortelius — Magnificent Renaissance Map of Spain and Portugal, circa 1573–1612","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREGNI HISPANIAE POST OMNIUM EDITIONES LOCUPLETISSIMA DESCRIPTIO\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\"\u003eA beautiful original hand-colored map of Spain and Portugal by Abraham Ortelius, the celebrated Renaissance cartographer responsible for producing the world’s first modern atlas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublished in Antwerp for Ortelius’s landmark \u003cem\u003eTheatrum Orbis Terrarum\u003c\/em\u003e, this impressive copperplate engraving presents the entire Iberian Peninsula in extraordinary sixteenth-century detail. Spain and Portugal dominate the composition, accompanied by the Balearic Islands and a narrow portion of the North African coast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThousands of finely engraved details identify the peninsula’s cities, villages, rivers, mountain ranges and historic kingdoms. The former political divisions of Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre, Galicia, Valencia, Granada and Portugal remain clearly visible, offering a remarkable geographic portrait of Iberia during the height of the Spanish Empire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map is especially prized for its decorative imagery. Two sailing vessels appear in the surrounding seas, while fanciful sea creatures inhabit the Atlantic and Mediterranean. A pair of dividers rises above the mileage scale at lower left. At lower right is an elaborate Renaissance strapwork title cartouche, supported by a muscular figure and adorned with masks, scrollwork and geometric ornamentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrtelius first included this map in the inaugural 1570 edition of the \u003cem\u003eTheatrum Orbis Terrarum\u003c\/em\u003e, generally recognized as the first true modern atlas. Its geography was closely associated with information supplied by the important Flemish botanist and traveler Carolus Clusius, who toured Spain and Portugal during the 1560s. The map remained an authoritative representation of the Iberian Peninsula for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn original copperplate engraving on laid paper with attractive old hand coloring. The impression remains strong and detailed. Expected central fold, general age toning, scattered discoloration, minor marginal wear and creasing near the lower center fold. Overall, a handsome and highly displayable example more than four centuries old.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbraham Ortelius (1527–1598)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eRegni Hispaniae Post Omnium Editiones Locupletissima Descriptio\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAntwerp, circa 1573–1612\u003cbr\u003eOriginal copperplate engraving on laid paper\u003cbr\u003eOld hand coloring\u003cbr\u003eFrom \u003cem\u003eTheatrum Orbis Terrarum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReference: Van den Broecke 25\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Signature Documents LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52772152017178,"sku":null,"price":1119.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2221\/0931\/files\/IMG_2794.jpg?v=1788206934","url":"https:\/\/www.thearchiveauthority.com\/en-ca\/products\/abraham-ortelius-magnificent-renaissance-map-of-spain-and-portugal-circa-1573-1612","provider":"Signature Documents LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}