Africae Tabula Nova ("New Map of Africa") is a map of Africa published by Abraham Ortelius in 1570. It was engraved by Frans Hogenberg and included in Ortelius's 1570 atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum ("Theater of the World"), commonly regarded as the first modern atlas. The atlas was printed widely in seven languages and comprised 31 total editions between 1570 and 1612.
This map is an original Abraham Ortelius Africae Tabula Nova map- 1570 plate, printed in the 1608/1612 Italian edition- which is noted for its rarity and refined Venetian printing. Fourth state.
With Italian text and the page number 4 on the verso, it is either the 1608 or 1612 edition, preferred for the quality of the engraving and the translated commentary by Filippo Pigafetta.
Hand-coloured, believed to have been applied around the time of printing.
In 1570, Abraham Ortelius was known for producing the most expensive work of cartography ever published. The map of Africa was printed from one copper plate from 1570 until 1641. The map shows well (in the title cartouche) the effect of the crack that developed in the copper plate in the late 1590's - as a consequence of the number of maps printed from the plate.
Size of the sheet 47x57cm. Plate size is 37.5x50.5cm.
Condition: Minimal foxing on edges of the sheet. The map itself lively and bright. Standard top to bottom crease where it was folded into the atlas. Some reinforcement on the fold at the back only.
- Jacket Condition: N/A
- Binding Condition: N/A
- Overall Condition: Very good
- Size: 37.5x 50.5cm
