Typus Orbis Terrarum.

Ortelius' Landmark World Map - 1st state, 1st Edition. French text on verso. One of the most famous world maps ever made, "Typus Orbis Terrarum" featured in the world's first atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) included the work as the first map in his atlas and it went through three editions in the later sixteenth century. Frans Hogenburg is stated as the engraver on the bottom of the map.

Along the bottom of the map there is an apt quote by Cicero, in translation, 'Who can consider human affairs to be great, when he comprehends the eternity and vastness of the entire world?.' QVID EI POTEST VIDERI MAGNVM IN REBVS HVMANIS, CVI AETERNITAS | OMNIS, TOTIVSQVE MVNDI NOTA SIT MAGNITVDO. CICERO.

A notable feature of the map is the wide Northwest Passage across the north part of America, which encouraged voyages of exploration by the English in this area. The eastern seaboard of the United States is still quite crudely delineated on the map, taking a radical west-to-east turn in the area of the Carolinas. Likewise, South America is distorted in the famous "potato" shape.
Africa, on the other hand, is quite well formed. Japan appears in the "kite" shape, one of the four distinctly different delineations of the country to be found in Ortelius's atlas. Korea is entirely absent.

The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by a vast continent, here labeled Terra Australis Nondum Cognita. While Ortelius' map pre-dates the official discovery of Australia in 1606 by Dutchman Willem Janszoon a large promontory extending northwards from Terra Australis is highly suggestive of the western coast of the southern continent. The lands of Maletur and Beach (from the travel account of Marco Polo) are noted along the Australian coast.

Reference: Van der Krogt, 0001:31A; Van den Broecke, 1; Shirley (World), 122; Karrow, 1/6.