Striking continental map designed by Ortelius from elements of contemporary maps by Gastaldi, Mercator, and Forlani. It is considered a cornerstone map for African collections. The name Carneca appears for the first time, and Zanzibar is shown on the west coast. The Nile is based on the Ptolemaic concept. The map is decorated with a strapwork title cartouche, a grand sea battle, swordfish and a whale. In the Indian Ocean off the coast of Arabia is a ghost-like sea monster. Latin text on verso with the page number 4, indicating a publication date between 1570 and about 1606, as there is no sign of the plate defect that developed thereafter. Ref: Norwich #10 and van den Broecke #8. Map has been re-margined across the top with just a hair of the top neatline missing. Printer's crease near fold, else very good with attractive old color.

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Condition: B