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ORTELIUS, Abraham.

[Epitome] Theatri Orbis Terrarum Enchiridion,

Minoribus Tabulis per Philippum Gallaeum exaratum: Et Carmine Heroico, ex variis Geographis & Poëtis collecto, per Hugonem Favolium illustratum.

First Latin and first quarto edition of Epitome. The engraver Philip Galle was a close friend of both Ortelius and Christopher Plantin and co-publisher of Braun and Hogenberg's Civitiates Orbis Terrarum, 1572. In 1577 he first published a miniature version, Spieghel der Werelt (later known as Epitome), of Ortelius's monumental Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, with Dutch text by the poet/translator Pieter Heyns. This edition is the last of Galle's first series. It was preceded by two re-issues, both from Antwerp, in 1579 (French) and 1583 (Dutch and French). Galle started a second series in 1588, with re-engraved, smaller plates, from which a whole host of derivatives sprang. This Latin edition is the best of the first series, in that it is the only one printed in a larger quarto format (rather than oblong octavo), and with six large maps (Europe, France, Germany, the Low Countries, and Italy in addition to the world map, a neatly-engraved smaller copy of Ortelius's first world map plate, dated 1574) set as double pages.

Quarto (202 × 145 mm). Eighteenth-century half calf sewn on four cords, handwritten paper label to spine, marbled sides. Housed in a cloth flat back solander box. Half-page allegorical engraving, 6 double-page maps, 75 maps within the text (total of 83 maps numbered to 84, omitting 77). Minor manuscript elucidations and 2 library ink stamps (Hall in Tyrol, Austria) to title page. One paper spine label gone leaving adhesive residue in head spine compartment, upper board with slight central crack at head, trivial red ink and water stain to top edge of the first few leaves, leaf C3 torn at upper inner margin at head without loss of text, occasional light spotting, chiefly marginal; overall a very good copy.

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