Istria on the Internet - Cartography

Cartography

Ortelius' Maps of Istria

Schlavoniæ, Croatiæ, Carniæ, Istriæ, Bosniæ, Finitimarumque regionum nova descriptio, auctore Augustino Hirsvogelio

A new representation of Sclavonia, Croatia, Carnia, Istria, Bosnia and their regional borders, by Augustinus Hirschvogel (lower right:) Cum priuilegio <= with privilege>,1570.

Plate size: 34 x 46 cm; Folio size:45 X 59 cm.

Ortelius's Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the World) is considered the first true atlas in the modern sense: a collection of uniform map sheets and sustaining text bound to form a book for which copper printing plates were specifically engraved. The Ortelius atlas is sometimes referred to as the summary of sixteenth-century cartography. Many of his atlas's maps were based upon sources that no longer exist or are extremely rare. Ortelius appended a unique source list (the "Catalogus Auctorum") identifying the names of contemporary cartographers, some of whom would otherwise have remained obscure. More than an original concept, the Theatrum was also the most authoritative and successful such work during the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries

This beautiful early & original map of map of the Slavonia, Croatia, Istria, and Bosnian regions was published by Ortelius in the 1572 French edition of Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.

There was only one state of this map that survived the entire publication life of Theatrum, over 7300 were published.

This map was based on Hirschvogel's 1552 map of the region, who drew on Lazarus- Ziegler-Apian as his sources.

There were a total of 7300 copies of Theatrum published between 1570 - 1612 from 31 editions. Of this map there were approximately 7300 copies published over the lifetime of Theatrum.

As this map is from an early edition the impression is heavy, due to the relative newness of the plate, the colour is fine and the paper excellent, a wonderful map in fine condition. (Ref: Van Den Broecke; Tooley)

General Description:

Paper thickness and quality: - Heavy and stable
Paper color: - off white
Age of map color: - Early
Colors used: - Yellow, green, blue, orange
General color appearance: - Authentic
Paper size: - 20 1/2in x 15 1/2in (520mm x 395mm)
Plate size: - 18 ½in x 13 ½in (470mm x 345mm)
Margins: - Min 1/2in (15mm)

Imperfections:

Margins: - Light soiling to bottom margin
Plate area: - None
Verso: - Light soiling

Overall Quality (in Bold):
Perfect/Fine/Very Good/Good/Fair/Poor

1579 ONWARD

Carinthiæ, Zaræ, Histriæ

47.5 x 37 cm copperplate engraving, 56 x 45 cm sheet size, modern hand colour, Antwerp, 1579

A 3-part original map that was offered for sale eBay came from the 1579 Latin edition of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum of Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598), the first true atlas in the modern sense. Showing at left the Kärnten (Carinthia) region of what is now Austria along with a map of the Adriatic coast from Trieste to Rijeki (Fiume) and a map of Istria including the Zadar and Sibenik region, Ortelius based the cartography for this map on cartography submitted by his friend the Hungarian scholar Wolfgang Lazius along with earlier Italian maps by Petro Coppo and Paulo Forlani.

Note ornate pictorial depictions of the cities of Zadar (Zara) and Sibenik (Sebenico), along with a depiction of "some ancient ruins":

Note bridges across Drava at Villach and Volkermarkt - to get a sense of map detail consider that the distance between the two cities as seen in this enlarged photo measures just 6 cm actual size:

Decorative title cartouche credits Lazius:

Istria (Istra):

Latin text on verso contains some interesting commentary on the regions of the map - excerpts derived from the 1606 English edition are presented below:

"In that place where on our map (of Zadar and Sibenik) you see certain ruins of old decayed buildings Dominicus Niger says that city Essesia did one time stand but now lies level with the ground. Today the place is known as Beribir, where epigrams in Latin and Greek with many other monuments of antiquity are yet seen."

"The citizens of Klagenfurt are so hardly bent against thieves that upon the least occasion of suspicion of theft shall be hanged there without examination, and then three days after the hanging they hold the trial. If he is found to have been unjustly executed they bury him very honourably; if justly they let him hang still..."

[Unfortunately, no part of the the Histria text was transcribed.]

Source: eBay (July 2006)

Schlavoniæ, Croatiæ, Carniæ, Istriæ, Bosniæ...

46.5 x 33.5 cm copperplate engraving, 55 x 43 cm sheet size, modern hand colour, Antwerp, 1579

A regional map from the 1579 Latin edition of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum of Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598), the first true atlas in the modern sense. Showing the Northern Balkans along the river Sava from Ljubljana (Laybach) in the west to just before the confluence with the Danube at Belgrade, Ortelius based the cartography for this map on a 1539 map by Augustin Hirschvogel (1503-1553).

Het 'Epitome' in het Italiaans, 1593

Theatro d'Abrahamo Ortelio : ridotto in forma piccola, augumentato di molte carte nuove ... Tradotto in lingua Italiana da Giovanni Paulet. Al. ill.mo. s.or il s.or Pietro di Hennin Conte di Boussu.
In Anversa nella stamparia Plantiniana, M.D.XVIII. A le spese di Philippo Gallo.
Met 107 kaarten in kopergravure, in 1 perkamenten band ; 11,5 x 15 cm.
Burger, Geographie en reizen p. 11 [2]; Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici Ort 55; Sijmons, Catalogue of atlases 259.
Het jaar van uitgave, M. D. XCIII, is met de pen veranderd in M. D. XVIII.
* 1802 G 20

Source: http://cf.uba.uva.nl/nl/collecties/kaarten/ortelius/cat62.html

De Italiaanse zakuitgave van het Theatrum, uitgeven in Brescia, 1598

Il theatro del mondo di Abraamo Ortelio : nel quale distintamente si dimonstrano in tavole tutte le provincie, regni, & paesi del mondo, al presente conosciuti; con la descrittione delle città, castelli, monti, mari, laghi, & fiumi di essi; la popolationi, i costumi, le ricchezze, & altri particolari desiderabili. Ridotto dalla forma grande in questa piccola, per maggior commodità di ogniuno. Con una tavola delle cose piu degne che nell' opera si contengono.
In Brescia, appresso la Compagnia Bresciana, MDXCVIII. Con licenza de superiori.
Met 109 kaarten in kopergravure, in 1 perkamenten band ; 20 x 15 cm.
De opdracht is ondertekend door Pietro Maria Marchetti.
Burger, Geographie en reizen p. 11 [7]; Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici Ort 69; Sijmons, Catalogue of atlases 265.
* 1802 F 20

http://cf.uba.uva.nl/nl/collecties/kaarten/ortelius/cat68.html

Het 'Epitome' in het Italiaans, uitgegeven door Vrients, 1602

Breve compendio dal Theatro Orteliano : contenendo la delineatione de tutti li regioni principali, del mondo, stampate in tavole piccole, & illustrate con brevi declaratione.
La postreme editione in molti luoghi emendata & con alcune tavole nuove augmentata.
In Anverso, appresso Gioanni Battista Vrientio. Anno M.D.II. [moet zijn: M.D.CII = 1602]. Con gratia & privilegio.
Met 118 kaarten in kopergravure, in 1 perkamenten band ; 12 x 16,5 cm.
Burger, Geographie en reizen p. 11 [5]; Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici Ort 61; Sijmons, Catalogue of atlases 263.
Met 'Additamento' van 12 kaartjes.
De titel beschadigd en gerestaureerd, met tekstverlies (impressum).
* 1802 G 15

Source: http://cf.uba.uva.nl/nl/collecties/kaarten/ortelius/cat66.html

Vier zeventiende-eeuwse Italiaanse zakuitgaven van het Theatrum, uitgegeven in Venetië in ca. 1655, 1679, 1683 en 1684
Theatro del mondo di Abraamo Ortelio : nel quale distintamente si dimostrano, in tavole, tutte le provincie, regni, & paesi del mondo. Con la descrittione delle città, territorij, castelli, monti, mari, laghi, & fiumi, le popolationi, i costumi, le ricchezze, & ogn'altra particolarità ...
Venetia, appresso il Turrini, [ca. 1655].

Source: http://cf.uba.uva.nl/nl/collecties/kaarten/ortelius/overzicht.html#parergon

Details of last entry:

Vier zeventiende-eeuwse Italiaanse zakuitgaven van het Theatrum, uitgegeven in Venetië in circa 1655, 1679, 1683 en 1684

Theatro del mondo di Abraamo Ortelio : nel quale distintamente si dimostrano, in tavole, tutte le provincie, regni, & paesi del mondo. Con la descrittione delle città, territorij, castelli, monti, mari, laghi, & fiumi, le popolationi, i costumi, le ricchezze, & ogn'altra particolarità. Ridotto à intiera perfettione, & in questa picciol forma, per maggior commodità de' viaggianti. Con la tavola delle cose più degne, che nell' opera si contengono.
Venetia, appresso il Turrini, [ca. 1655].
Met 109 kaarten in kopergravure, in 1 perkamenten band ; 14 x 10 cm.
Burger, Geographie en reizen p. 11 [8]; Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici Ort 70; Sijmons, Catalogue of atlases 266.
Aan het eind een gedrukt lijstje (2 pp.) met uitgaven van Turrini en anderen, gevolgd door enkele afstandstabellen in handschrift: 'Poste pricipali d'Italia, Da Napoli a Roma ...' (e.a.).
* 1802 G 9

Theatro del mondo di Abraamo Ortelio : nel quale si dà notitia distinta di tutte le provincie, regni, & paesi del mondo. Con la descrittione delle città, territorij, castelli, monti, mari, laghi, & fiumi, le popolationi i costumi, le ricchezze, & ogn'altra particolarità. Ridotto à intiera perfettione, & in questa piciol forma, per maggior commodità de viaggianti. Con la tavola delle cose più degne, che nell' opera si contengono.
In Venetia, M.DC.LXXIX. Presso Stefano Curti. Con licenza de' superiori, e privileggio.
Met 4 kaarten in kopergravure, in 1 perkamenten band ; 14 x 10 cm.
De kaarten van de vroegere uitgaven zijn hierin niet opgenomen, maar vervangen door vier uitvouwbare kaarten der werelddelen.
Burger, Geographie en reizen p. 12 [1a]; Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici Ort 72; Sijmons, Catalogue of atlases 267.
Provenance: Raimond van Marle (ex libris).
* 1802 G 10.

Theatro del mondo di Abraamo Ortelio : nel quale si dà notitia distinta di tutte le provincie, regni, & paesi del mondo. Con la descrittione delle città, territorij, castelli, monti, mari, laghi, & fiumi, le popolationi i costumi, le ricchezze, & ogn'altra particolarità. Ridotto à intiera perfettione, & in questa piciol forma, per maggior commodità de viaggianti. Con la tavola delle cose più degne, che nell' opera si contengono.
In Venetia, M.DC.LXXXIII. Presso Steffano Curti. Con licenza de' superiori, e privileggio.
Met 0 [van 4] kaarten, in 1 half perkamenten band ; 15 x 10,5 cm.
Burger, Geographie en reizen p. 12 [1b]; Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici Ort 73; Sijmons, Catalogue of atlases 268.
Blad A2 in het voorwerk en de 4 kaarten ontbreken.
* 1804 F 1

Theatro del mondo di Abraamo Ortelio : nel quale si dà notitia distinta di tutte le provincie, regni, & paesi del mondo. Con la descrittione delle città, territorij, castelli, monti, mari, laghi, e fiumi; le popolationi, i costumi, le ricchezze, & ogn'altra particolarità. Ridotto à intiera perfettione, & in questa piciol forma, per maggior commodità de' viaggianti. Con la tavola delle cose più degne, che nell' opera si contengono.
Venetia, MDCLXXXIV. Appresso il Brigna. Con licenza de' superiori, e privileggio.
Met 0 [van 4] kaarten, in 1 lederen band ; 15 x 9 cm.
Burger, Geographie en reizen p. 12 [1c]; Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici Ort 74; Sijmons, Catalogue of atlases 269.
De vier kaarten ontbreken.
* 1802 G 11

Source: http://cf.uba.uva.nl/nl/collecties/kaarten/ortelius/cat69.html

See also:

Ortelius Maps - Unstable editions of Ortelius' atlas

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