Brabant cartographer and humanist, a personal friend of Plantin. Antwerp, 14 April 1527 - 4 July 1598. Cf. Biographie Nationale [de Belgique], 16, 1901, Columns 291-332; J. Denucé, Oud-Nederlandsche kaartmakers in betrekking met Plantijn, 2 vols., The Hague - Antwerp, 1912-1913, especially II, pages 1-252 (with large excerpts from the Plantinian archives and a description of the Ortelius editions as preserved in the Plantin-Moretus Museum); F. van Ortroy, 'Notes préliminaires pour la bibliographie d'Abraham Ortelius' in Bulletin de la Société Royale belge de Géographie, 1914-1919, C. Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici, III, 1969, pages 25-83 (detailed description of Ortelius's atlases; biographical note and bibliographical references). Other bibliographical references in A. Gerlo - H.D.L. Vervliet, Bibliographie de l'humanisme des anciens Pays-Bas, 1972, pages 418-419.
I. Theatrum orbis terrarum.
1- The first modern atlas. -2- Ortelius published in 1570 the first edition, containing 53 maps, each with a detailed comment. The presentation remained unchanged in all of Ortelius's Theatrum-editions: the maps are on the inside of a double sheet (verso-side of the first and recto-side of the second sheet); the comments are printed on the recto-sides of the sheet, while the verso-sides of the second sheet remain generally blank. -3- The 1570-edition was followed by many others, in several languages (Latin, Dutch, French, German, Spanish), and with an ever increasing number of maps. -4- Ortelius was his own publisher. Who engraved and printed his maps is not known, but for printing the typographical parts (introductions and comments on the maps) he commissioned Antwerp printers: first Aegidius Coppens van Diest; in 1575 Aegidius Radeus; from 1579 onwards Plantin. -5- Until 1579 the editions of the Theatrum include: 1570 (Latin), 1571 (Latin; Dutch), 1572 (German; French), 1573 (Latin; German), 1574 (Latin), 1575 (Latin).
- cp010438: Theatrum orbis terrarum, [printed by Plantin], 1579.
- cp011882: Theatrum oder Schawbüch des Erdtkreijs, [printed by Plantin], 1580.
- cp012424: Theatre de l'univers, [printed by Plantin], 1581.
- cp012339: Theatrum orbis terrarum, [printed by Plantin], 1584.
- cp010405: Theatre de l'univers, [printed by Plantin], 1587.
- cp010265: Theatro de la tierra universal, 1588.
II. Additamentum.
1- 'Addition' to the Theatrum, consisting of a title-page, giving full details on the content (including the enumeration of the maps), and a number of maps on double sheets with explanation on the recto-side of the first sheet, following the method used in the Theatrum itself. -2 Whenever Ortelius had realized new maps to be incorporated into a new edition of the Theatrum, he prepared an Additamentum with the new maps, in order - as is always explained in detail in the note to the reader on the title-page - that those who had bought the former editions could insert the new maps into their Theatrum without being obliged to buy a complete new copy. The first Additamenta were issued in 1573-1574 (1573: Latin and German; 1574: French).
III. Epitome.
1- The first modern pocket-atlas, with maps copied from the first modern atlas, published with various titles: Spieghel der werelt [Mirror of the world] (Dutch editions), Le miroir du monde and Epitome du théatre du monde (French editions), Enchiridion theatri orbis terrarum and Epitome theatri orbis terrarum (Latin editions). -2- These editions in reduced format of Ortelius's Theatrum orbis terrarum have been published by Philip Galle, who had the maps engraved and printed in his studio, and the typographical texts printed by Plantin. -3- In one of the introductory pieces in the first 1577-Dutch edition, in a dialogue in verses between Galle and Pieter Heyns, the Antwerp schoolmaster and author of the Dutch texts, the impression is given that Ortelius (at that time abroad) is unaware of the initiative to bring out a pocket-edition of his Theatrum, but both Galle and Heyns agree that Ortelius would have given his consent if he had known it. It is also suggested that both Galle and Plantin wanted to support financially an impoverished Heyns (cf. Denucé, I, pages 227-228; BB, III, page 451; Koeman, III, page 71). Ortelius, when returning to Antwerp, does not seem to have protested. Anyway, while the cartographer remained a friend of both Galle and Heyns, the engraver continued to issue a number of editions of the Epitome in Dutch, French, and Latin. Cf. Denucé, I, pages 221 ff. (chapter devoted to Galle).
- cp010818: Epitome theatri orbis terrarum [Dutch edition; text by Pieter Heyns]. Antwerp, Philip Galle, [printed by Plantin], 1577.
- cp011103: Epitome theatri orbis terrarum [French edition; text by Pieter Heyns]. Antwerp, Philip Galle, [printed by Plantin], 1579.
- cp012472: Epitome theatri orbis terrarum [Dutch edition; text by Pieter Heyns]. Antwerp, Philip Galle, [printed by Plantin], 1583.
- cp010225: Epitome theatri orbis terrarum [French edition; text by Pieter Heyns]. Antwerp, Philip Galle, [printed by Plantin], 1583.
- cp010336: Epitome theatri orbis terrarum [Latin edition; text by Hugo Favolius]. Antwerp, Philip Galle, [printed by Plantin], 1585.
- cp013532: Epitome theatri orbis terrarum [French edition]. Antwerp, Philip Galle, [printed by Plantin], 1588.
- cp011167: Epitome theatri orbis terrarum [Latin edition]. Antwerp, Philip Galle, [printed by Plantin], 1589.