Ortelius' First Map of Ireland in Full Contemporary Color

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

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 #22.2.

Condition: B+

A nice impression with full contemporary color on a sheet with an eagle watermark. There are a few small abrasions along the centerfold at top. The green pigment has oxidized to brown, but the paper is still supple.