Maps, Geldria, Holland, Germany, Ortelius
"Geldria"
Hand-colored copper etching from the pocket atlas
by Abraham Ortelius
Antwerp, 1587
Original antique print
This little jewel map, east-oriented and showing areas beyond its title, is one of Abraham Ortelius' miniature maps, an attempt by the author to spread the knowledge of the world, so fabulously displayed in his large (and expensive) atlas "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum", which was the first world atlas ever produced, as I just said, to spread this knowledge further into larger groups of buyers who did not have the means to afford the large version. And just look, how pretty and educational even a miniature map as this one can be!
The River Rhine runs diagonally through this map dividing it into geographicaly right and left. On its right side, beginning at Cologne, we have the Lower Rhineland and areas well into Wesrphalia and, in the lower left corner of this map, the Zuiderzee, nowadays Ijsselmeer between Friesland and North Holland.
Very good condition. Margins have light scattered spotting.
Reverse side has text print about Brabant in the French language.
7,6 x 10,7 cm (ca. 3 x 4.2")
