Rare antique maps

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16.  ABRAHAM ORTELIUS   (1527 - 98)

”Septentrionalium  Regionum  Descrip.”                                                                                                           

Engraving, 36x48,9cm

ANTWERP  (1570), but 1601

In 1570 Abraham Ortelius published his atlas 

«Theatrum Orbis Terrarum», the first atlas in the 

modern sense of the word. Among the fifty-three 

maps was a general map of the Northern Regions. 

In the «Septentrionalium»  Ortelius gathered 

and melted together cartographical material and 

information from Donis, Ziegler, O. Magnus, 

Zeno and others. The impressive map became the 

standard map of the region for the next 40 years. 

It was printed from the same copperplate until as 

late as 1641. The printing process and alterations 

to the plate can be followed during 8 different 

states according to Ginsberg. Here in state six 

with 8 names in the polar island and the trimmed 

plate on the right-hand side (2mm). 

EXCELLENT COPY IN A LOVELY IMPRESSION. 

Literature: W.B. Ginsberg “Printed Maps of Scandinavia and the Arctic 1482 - 1601” Entry 24, state 6, Benedicte Gamborg Briså “Northward Bound 

At The Far Edge Of The World” Nordkappmuseet 2010, page 11 and 16 illustrated as well as page 40 - 41

24 000,-

(€2930)

17.   ABRAHAM  ORTELIUS                                                                                                                                    

“Daniae  Regni  Typus  /  Cimbricae  Chersonesi  nunc  Iutiae“                                                                           

Engraved map, 34,5x49cm

ANTWERPEN  (1595) - 1608 or 12

The third and the last Denmark map by Ortelius. It shows 

many more details and was improved cartographically as 

well. Printed on one sheet, the second map is a special map 

of Jutland. Italian text on the back. Fine condition. 

Provenance: Uno Nordholm 

Collection 105, dissolved in 1964                                                                                                

Literature: Van den Broecke 86a + b

5 000,-

(€750)

18.   ABRAHAM ORTELIUS

“Carpetannia – Guipuscoae – Cadiz”

Contemporary hand-coloured engraving, 39x49cm

ANTWERP  1584

Three maps in one printed from one plate. First

year of publication. 

Literature: Van den Broecke 31a, b, and c

3 000,-

(€375)

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Galleri Bygdøy Allé - Kunstantikvariat Pama

19.  GERARD DE JODE  (1509 - 91)

“Septentrionalium Regionum Svetiæ, Gothiæ, Norvegiæ, 

Daniæ”                                                            

Contemporary hand-coloured engraving, 37x49,5cm

ANTWERP  (1578) - 1593

AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE IN ORIGINAL 

COLOURS OF THE PUBLISHER.                                                                                              

This elegant map is as a work of art. The copper plate was 

engraved by the Van Doetecum brothers and is geographically 

based on Liévin Algoet’s large woodcut map from 1562 

(Ginsberg 21). Already from the beginning De Jode’s map 

publishing business was in the shadow of Ortelius and became 

never a commercial success, in spite of the fact that the quality 

of his maps is similar to or sometimes even better than that of 

Ortelius. The business failed and only two editions of the atlas 

(1578 “Speculum Orbis Terrarum”and 1593 “Speculum Orbis Terrae”) were published. Maps of either edition are scarce 

and desirable pieces for collectors. 

According to Ginsberg there are 3 different states of the Scandinavia map, this is state 3 with more hatching in the Gulf of 

Finland. 

Literature: W.B. Ginsberg “Printed Maps of Scandinavia and the Arctic 1482 - 1601” Entry 28, fig. 28.2 Hoem no.15, Koeman Jod 2, Bramsen no.46

      

   120 000,-

(€16600)

20.  [G. BRAUN & F. HOGENBERG]

“Candia” + “La Cita De Corphu”

Contemporary hand-coloured engraving, 37,5x49cm

COLOGNE  (1575), but c. 1590 

Two views (Crete and Corfu) printed on one sheet. 

Published  in  Part  II  of  “Civitates  Orbis Terrarum”.                                     

A fine copy in fresh colours. French text verso. 

5 000,-

(€935)

21.  [G. BRAUN & F. HOGENBERG]

“Antiqva Urbis Romæ Imago Accuratiss. Ex. Vetustis 

Monumentis”

Contemporary hand-coloured engraving, 68x49cm

COLOGNE  c. 1588

Published in Part IV of “Civitates Orbis Terrarum”. 

Two sheets originally joined.                                         

Small split in the central fold.

10 000,-

(€1300)

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www.antiquemaps.no

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22.   GERARD MERCATOR  (1512 - 94)

«Septentrionalium Terrarum descriptio”

Contemporary hand-coloured engraving, 36,6x39,3cm

The ornaments verso are also coloured 

DUISBURG  1595

FIRST ISSUE - STATE ONE OF THE FIRST SEPARATE MAP OF THE NORTH POLE AND THE ARCTIC 

REGIONS.THE FOUR ISLANDS IN THE POLAR SEA ARE STILL PRESENT.  A COPY IN BRIGHT ORIGINAL 

COLOUR.  PUBLISHED IN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ATLASES IN THE HISTORY OF CARTOGRAPHY.

Famous circular polar map, also depicting Scandinavia and parts of America, Russia and the Northwest and Norteast 

Passage influenced by English explorers. In three corners small circular maps of Shetland, Faroe Islands and the imagined 

island «Frislant». In this state Spitsbergen is not yet depicted on the map, see below. The tradition that The North Pole is 

the center of four streams was not based on any exploration but could have been based on mediaeval “T-O-maps”. They 

had Jerusalem in the center and the Paradise at the top where it was supposed that the World’s four great rivers had their 

source.

The map was posthumously published by Gerard’s son Rumold in 1595 in the first book with maps where the word 

“Atlas” was used. There is a second printing of the first state from 1602. Jodocus Hondius acquired the map publishing 

business of Mercator in 1604 and the North Pole copper plate was partly re-engraved for the expanded Mercator-Hondius 

atlases after 1606. The map in the second state was intended to include Spitsbergen and changes in the shape of Novaja 

Zemlja are mostly based on the map by Barents from 1598. 

The map is accompanied with the title-page from 1595. 

A weak marginal age tone. In lower margin a small paper flaw affecting a few mm of the black line. Very fine. 

Literature: W. B. Ginsberg “Printed Maps of Scandinavia and The Arctic 1482 - 1601” entry 33, fig.33-2a, P. Burden “The Mapping of North 

America”  entry 88, Nicholas Crane “Mercator - The Man who mapped the Planet” London 2002, illustrated after page 243

Price on request

FIRST EDITION MAP

A MILESTONE MAP IN THE ARCTIC CARTOGRAPHY

INCLUDING THE FIRST TITLE-PAGE WHERE THE WORD “ATLAS” WAS IN USE

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