Catalog Archive
Auction 170, Lot 472

Ortelius' First Map of Ireland

"Eryn. Hiberniae, Britannicae Insulae, Nova Descriptio. Irlandt", Ortelius, Abraham

Subject: Ireland

Period: 1595 (published)

Publication: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum

Color: Black & White

Size:
19 x 13.9 inches
48.3 x 35.3 cm
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This exceptional map was based on Mercator's 1564 wall map of the British Isles and is presented with west oriented to the top. This is the first map of Ireland to include any geographic details; its predecessors being crudely drawn Italian maps. It is divided into counties and shows towns, rivers, lakes, forests, coastal islands and a host of other details. There are several Latin annotations throughout the map. The map is typical of Ortelius' refined, yet ebullient style with bold strapwork title and scale cartouches and a pair of ships in the stormy sea off the northern coastline. Latin text on verso.

References: Law, pp. 6-9; Van den Broecke #22.3.

Condition: A

A beautiful, dark impression on a clean sheet of watermarked paper with a hint of toning along the centerfold.

Estimate: $1,500 - $1,800

Unsold

Closed on 11/14/2018

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