This is the second (of three) world maps that were included in Ortelius' famous atlas. It is a simplified reduction of Mercator's influential map of 1569 presented on an oval projection rather than the projection for which Mercator is now famous. From surviving correspondence, it is known that Mercator encouraged Ortelius and provided him with information, particularly with coordinates of places in the Americas. Placed on a cloud background, the map shows North America as much too wide and nearly bisected by a lengthy St. Lawrence River, with the lands of Anian Regnum and Quivira noted on the western coast. The Atlantic Ocean is filled with phantom islands, including Frieslant, St. Brandain, Brasil and many others. This is the third state of the plate with an updated shape of South America, removing the bulge of the southwestern coastline from the previous state. At the poles, a prominent Northwest Passage snakes its way south of the four islands making up the arctic regions, and a huge Terra Australis Nondum Cognita makes up the imaginary southern continent. A notation next to New Guinea notes that it is unknown if this large island is a part of the southern continent. The title is in a strapwork banner at top, which is balanced with a quotation from Cicero at bottom. This superb map was engraved by Frans Hogenberg, although his imprint does not appear on this plate. This plate is very rare and was only used for 4 editions of the Theatrum between 1587-98, with an estimated 750 copies printed, and only 50 copies of this Dutch edition were printed. Dutch text on verso.

References: Shirley #122; Van den Broecke #2.3.

Condition: B

Superb original color on watermarked paper with light soiling and a few abrasions along the centerfold at bottom, with minor retouching of color. There are professional repairs to the centerfold at bottom, to a tear that enters 1" into image at top left, and to two chips confined to bottom blank margin, far from image.