Subject: Southern Poland
Period: 1590 (published)
Publication: Epitome du Theatre du Monde d'Abraham Ortelius
Color: Hand Color
Size:
4.3 x 3 inches
10.9 x 7.6 cm
Miniature map depicting the duchies of Oswieczin and Zator in the southern part of Poland. The crisply engraved map is filled with place names each symbolized by a tiny castle and colored in red. The title is enclosed in a block-style cartouche. French text on verso. The first pocket version of Ortelius' Theatrum was published by Philippe Galle in 1577 as Spieghel der Werelt. Galle began a new edition with new plates, commonly known as the Epitome, in 1588. Galle's miniature atlas was quite popular, and was published in editions until 1602. From 1583 he gradually introduced a new set of maps, both adding to and replacing the originals. The plates were then passed to Jan B. Vrients, who retouched some of the plates and published the final editions of the Epitome in 1601 and 1602.
References: King (2nd Ed.) pp. 64-65 & 88-89; Van der Krogt (Vol. III) #1940:331.
Condition: B+
A nice impression with light toning and marginal soiling.