

He did not create the maps and listed all the authors in the Atlas. Ortelius then created smaller equal size maps, bound them together into a book, and published his landmark first modern atlas: “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum” with 53 maps. A Dutch merchant seaman asked him to solve the problem of large bulky roles of maps that were cumbersome when piloting a ship. Luke as a map illuminator and he began engraving large maps. He then was able to enter the Guild of St. He and his family moved back to Antwerp in 1547 and he trained as a map engraver. The family was suspected of practicing Protestantism, and after his father’s death he was taken to England to avoid the inquisition. The Ortel family originally came from Augsberg, Germany in 1535. * Van der Krogt 332:13.Abraham Ortelius (Ortel) was born in Antwerp. Also, with this edition, Jan Baptist Vrients obtained ownership of the Galle plates Vrients was also the publisher of the final and greatest editions of the Theatrum.

By the time this edition appeared, only a handful of its 123 maps were from the earlier publication with the rest newly engraved. When this edition was first published 1588, three-fourths of its maps came from the earlier edition, but with successive editions more new maps were added. A third competing edition of the Epitome published by van Keerbergen appeared 1601.

However, the prominence of Ortelius’s name in the second Galle edition suggests the possibility of Ortelius’ participation in it. Although Galle was a friend of Ortelius, the latter was apparently not aware of the first 1577 attempt to produce a reduced version of the Theatrum. Also, Ortelius’s name prominently appeared on its title page as well. In 1588 Galle introduced a new, more capably engraved edition called Epitome du Theatre du Monde, now referring directly to Ortelius’s great folio atlas. Titled Spieghel De Wereld, it was quite crudely engraved but was nevertheless very successful commercially. The very first, pocket edition of Ortelius’s atlas appeared in 1577 and was also published by Galle. At the end of the work is a supplement containing maps that had recently been added to Ortelius’ larger atlas, including ones of Japan and Iceland. Included among this atlas’ 123 maps are two of the world, a star chart (which was never included in Ortelius’ large atlas), and maps of the continents, all engraved with considerable charm. Therefore, very good copies of the Epitome in an original binding, as here, are quite uncommon in today’s market. The small-format edition of the Ortelius atlas saw more actual use than its folio forebear, which was often prized as a “trophy” possession of its owner. Ortelius’ groundbreaking, large-format atlas proved to be such an enormously successful publishing phenomenon that it spawned several editions in a smaller, more affordable format, which in themselves proved to be highly successful. A solid copy in its original binding of Filips Galle’s improved version of the first small-scale version of a folio atlas ever published, and the first edition published by Vrients. 123 maps lightly toned throughout, soiling, some wear & remnants of early ink notations to t-p, but a sound copy with strong impressions throughout overall near excellent. Oblong octavo in original vellum binding with usual wear signed & dated inside front cover (“Monti Maurizio 10 gbre 1815). Epitome Theatri Orteliani, Praecipuarum Orbis Regionum delineationes….
