This miniature version of Ortelius' important map of Southeast Asia shows how sketchy the available information was concerning the region. The East Indies are presented as a randomly scattered group of islands with Java and Borneo particularly misshapen. Beach pars, a presumed promontory of the great southern continent based on Marco Polo's account, protrudes into the bottom of the map. Japan is presented in its kite-shaped form, and in the upper right corner America makes an appearance with three unnamed cities. French text on verso.

This map is from the first pocket-sized atlas, Spieghel der Wereld, which was based on Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. The maps were engraved on copper by Filips Galle and represented all regions around the world. The maps were accompanied by text prepared by Peter Heyns, who used the text from the Theatrum. The numbers printed above the maps, adjacent to the letterpress title, indicate the number of the map within the Theatrum. This innovative, small atlas was designed to reach the lower middle class, and was a commercial success, prompting numerous reprints and imitations. The first edition of the Spieghel der Wereld was published in 1577, with subsequent editions published in French in 1579 and 1583, Dutch in 1583 and 1596, and Latin in 1585. One unique feature of this pocket atlas was the inclusion of 6 larger, fold-out maps of the world, Europe, France, Germania, the Low Countries and Italy that were included alongside 66 miniature maps.

References: King (2nd Ed.) pp. 60-61; Van der Krogt (Vol. III) #8400:331.

Condition: A

A nice impression on a bright sheet with some worm tracks in the top blank margin, with those at top right archivally repaired and those at left well away from the image.