Epitome Theatri Orteliani
the Netherlands on map » Maps from the 16th century
In 1570 Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) became the father of the modern atlas by issuing the world's first regularly produced atlas, the Theatrum orbis terrarum (Theatre of the world). Combining maps of uniform size and style with comprehensive text, the innovative Theatrum set the standard for the shape and contents of future atlases.
The Theatrum became the best-selling atlas of the sixteenth century, overshadowing Gerard Mercator's Atlas (1585). The success of the Theatrum spawned another first of its kind, the pocket atlas, entitled the Epitome theatri Orteliani. The maps of the Theatrum were redrawn by Ortelius's collaborator, Philip Galle, and issued with text in rhyme by the translator of the Dutch Theatrum, Pieter Heyns. Galle and Christoffel Plantin published the Epitome in 1577.
After Ortelius's death Jan Baptist Vrients added some plates. On this cdrom a Latin edition of the pocket atlas produced in 1601.