Cartographica Neerlandica Background for Ortelius Map No. 0(1)

Title: THEA|TRVM ORBIS | TERRA|RVM.

First plate of three. Plate size: but approximately 331 x 371 mm.
Identification number: Ort0(1). VdK ANIIIA: 31:1A

Occurrence in Theatrum editions:

1570L(A), first state (Ort0.1.1) (100 copies printed) (blank on verso);
1570L(B), first state (Ort0.1.1) (100 copies printed) (verso text starts: EPIGRAMMA | DANIELIS ROGERII ALBIMONTANI, ends: "Quod structum ingenio est,sine carebit opus" | (woodcut of horizontal bar);
1570L(C), first state (Ort0.1.1) (125 copies printed) (blank on verso);
1571L, first state (Ort0.1.1) (275 copies printed) (verso text starts:) EPIGRAMMA | DANIELIS ROGERII | ALBIMONTANI, (ends:) "Quod structum ingenio est,sine carebit opus" | (woodcut of heart-like structure); a variant: under woodcut: 4 lines of a poem in Greek by Gerard Falkenburg.
1573L(AB), second state (Ort0.1.2) (80 copies printed) (engraved text below image: "Opus nunc denuň ab ipso Auctore recognitum, multisquč locis castigatum, & quamplurimis | nouis Tabulis atquč Commentarijs auctum");
1574L, second state (Ort0.1.2) (175 copies printed) (engraved text below image: "Opus nunc denuň ab ipso Auctore recognitum, multisquč locis castigatum, & quamplurimis | nouis Tabulis atquč Commentarijs auctum"), (on verso text: EPIGRAMMA (Rogers, (16 lines of cursive text, followed by HADRIANI IVNII HORNANDI poem with 4 lines of cursive text and bar-like woodcut);
1584L, second state (Ort0.1.2) (750 copies printed) (engraved text below image:) "Opus nunc denuň ab ipso Auctore recognitum, multisquč locis castigatum, & quamplurimis | nouis Tabulis atquč Commentarijs auctum."), (on verso text:) DANIEL ROGERSIVS | AD THEATRVM ORBIS (followed by 22 lines of cursive text, ending: "Illi dum vestra stabit ab arte decus");
1592L, second state (Ort0.1.2) (525 copies printed) (text on verso:) IN THEATRVM ORBIS TERRARVM...(followed by 24 lines of cursive text by Schottus of Antwerp, followed by 4 lines in Greek by Gerardus Falkenburg of Nijmegen).
1595L, second state (Ort0.1.2) (500 copies printed) (text on verso:)IN THEATRVM ORBIS TERRARVM...(followed by 24 lines of cursive text by Schottus of Antwerp, followed by 4 lines in Greek by Gerardus Falkenburg of Nijmegen).
1601L, second state (Ort0.1.2) (200 copies printed) (centre of image has the text:) THEATRVM | ORBIS | TERRARVM | ABRAHAMI ORTELI | Quod ante extremum | vitć suć diem, postre|mum recensuit, nouis | Tabulis et Commentarijs | auxit atque illustrauit. (type set text below plate:) ANTVERPIAE, EX OFFICINA PLANTINIANA, | Apud Ioannem Moretum. | Anno M.D.CI. (text on verso:) IN THEATRVM ORBIS TERRARVM...(followed by 24 lines of cursive text by Schottus of Antwerp, followed by 4 lines in Greek by Gerardus Falkenburg of Nijmegen.)
1602G, third state, (Ort0.1.3) (250 copies printed) (text in centre, first 3 lines in Gothic script:) Theatrum oder | Schawbuch der | gantzen Welt. | Wie es der Hocherfah|rener Abraham Ortelius | kurtz vor seines lebens ende i-|bersehę und mit neuen Tafeln | und Commentarien gemehret | und versiret hat. | MDCII. (Text on verso in Gothic script:) M. Tullius Cicero | spricht: (followed by 6 centred lines).
1603L, third state (Ort0.1.3) (300 copies printed) (Text in centre:) THEA|TRVM | ORBIS | TERRA|RVM. (On plate below text:) ABRAHAMI ORTELI ANTVERP. | GEOGRAPHI REGII. (Below plate:) TABVLIS ALIQVOT NOVIS VITAQ. AVCTORIS | ILLVSTRATVM. EDITIO VLTIMA. | ANTVERPIĆ, | APVD IOANNEM BAPT. VRINTIVM. | ANNO M.D.CIII. (Text on verso: large emblem featuring Philip II with at the bottom two lines of text by Schottus:) "Regna vides Magni,ceu stemmata clara, PHILIPPI, | Imperium terris qua tenet ac pelago, | Justitia, alma Fides, Pietas, et auita vigebit | Relligio, hoc saluo Principe; CHRISTE faue".
1606E, third state (Ort0.1.3) (300 copies printed) (Text in centre:) THEA|TRVM | ORBIS | TERRA|RVM. (On plate below text:) ABRAHAMI ORTELI ANTVERP. | GEOGRAPHI REGII. (Below plate:) THE THEATRE OF THE WHOLE | WORLD : SET FORTH BY THAT | Excellent Geographer "Abraham Ortelius" | LONDON, | "Printed by" IOHN NORTON, "Printer to the Kings most excellent Maiestie in | Hebrew, Greeke and Latine". (On verso: Large emblem Honi Soit qui mal y pense with small cartouche at the bottom and cursive writing:) "The sway, by Sea and Land, great IAMES doth beare, | His Birth, his Bloud, These Kingdoms figure here: | But, were his severall vertues to be crown'd | A world, past thine, Ortelius, must be found".
1609/1612L, third state (Ort0.1.3) (300 copies printed) (text in centre:) THEA|TRVM | ORBIS | TERRA|RVM. (On plate below text:) ABRAHAMI ORTELI ANTVERP. | GEOGRAPHI REGII. (Below plate:) ANTVERPIĆ, | EXTAT IN OFFICINA PLANTINIANA. | M.DC.XII. (Text on verso: large emblem featuring Philip II with at the bottom two lines of text by Schottus:) "Regna vides Magni,ceu stemmata clara, PHILIPPI, | Imperium terris qua tenet ac pelago, | Justitia, alma Fides, Pietas, et auita vigebit | Relligio, hoc saluo Principe; CHRISTE faue".
1610/1613D, third state (Ort0.1.3) (50 copies printed) (text in centre:) THEA|TRVM | ORBIS | TERRARVM. (Below centre on plate:) ABRAHAMI ORTELI ANTVERP. | GEOGRAPHI REGII. (On sheet below plate:) Dit Tonneel des Aert-bodems van ABRAHAM ORTELIVS, is te koope t'Antwerpen, | inden Plantijnschen Winckel,by de Weduwe ende Sonen van Ian Moerentorf. (Text on verso:) M. TVLLIVS CICERO. (followed by 9 lines of text in Gothic script).

States: Plate Ort0(1.1) first state, Ort0(1.1) 1570L(ABC), 1571L: (Title page in frame; title:) THEA | TRVM | ORBIS | TERRA|RVM (as part of plate, no hatching left and right of pedestal; blank background; no text engraved at the bottom).
First plate, second state, Ort0(1.2) introduced in 1573L(AB). Title page in frame; engraved text below image, in cursive script:) "Opus nunc denuo ab ipso Auctore recognitum, multisque locis castigatum, & quamplurimis | nouis Tabulis atquč Commentarijs auctum" ; (hatching left and right of pedestal; Globe at left knee of Europe now has clearly circular hatching at the bottom; background behind title of denser and darker structure; belly of Africa now has cross-hatching; pedestal of Magellanica now has denser and darker structure; clothing of right leg of Asia shows more folds).
First plate third state, Ort0(1.3) introduced in 1602G. Engraved text below image removed. Centre of plate cut out. Just below the cutout additional engraving: ABRAHAMI ORTELI ANTVERP. | GEOGRAPHI REGII.

Approximate number of copies printed: 4180

References: Rolf Blankemeijer (2005) Plaat of staat? De titelpagina van het Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. "Caert-Thresoor" 24.3. Blankemeijer only recognises two plates; R.W. Shirley (1996) "The title pages to the Theatrum and Parergon" in M. van den Broecke, P. van der Krogt and P. Meurer (eds.) "Abraham Ortelius and the first atlas", HES Publishers; W. Waterschoot (1979) The title-page of Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, "Quaerendo" 9(1):43-68; P. van der Krogt (2003) New Atlantes Neerlandici Vol. IIIA p. 37-40; B. Vuylsteke (1984) "Het Theatrum Orbis Terrarum van Abraham Ortelius (1595). Een studie van de decoratieve elementen en de gehistorieerde voorstellingen", unpublished dissertation, University of Leuven, p. 29-44.

Background on these plates:

The title page of Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum is of an allegorical nature and was used throughout the life of the atlas by means of three engravings which only differ in insignificant ornamental details.
It has the form of a porch through which the reader can enter the "Theatre of the Whole World" as Ortelius calls his atlas. Seated at the top, amidst a celestial and world globe we see a lady figure representing Europe, Queen of the World, superior to all other figures. She wears the Imperial Crown, a sceptre in her right hand, and holds a rudder in the form of a cross, connected to the world globe. Europe rules the world, inspired by Christianity and its excellent countries and inhabitants. She has triumphed over the other figures representing the other continents of the world.
Asia is portrayed at the left. She is dressed in a gown beset with precious stones and holds a container with incense in her left hand. The poet van Meerkerke or Mekerchius in his poem explaining the title page tells that she is also known for her aromatic spices and pigments. On the right we see Africa, scantily dressed, holding a balm branch in her right hand. In the text on verso of his Africa map, Ortelius tells us that the blackness of Africans is commonly thought to be a result of the closeness of the sun, but he provides counterexamples too. Mekerchius does not share this view, and refers to the mythological Phaëton as responsible for the blackness of Africans.
Left in the foreground sits America, perhaps the most interesting figure of this title page. She is naked, holds a cudgel in her right hand, and a male human head in her left hand. She has long hair under a hood. Her forehead is ornated with a gem, and her right calf with a bracelet with bells. Her weapons consist of a bow and arrows, and behind her, we see a hammock. Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci reported about bows and arrows being in use in America and so did Hans Staden, a German from Homburg who was held captive by the Tupinamba Indians in Brazil for nine months. In 1554 he returned to Europe and in 1557 he published his adventures in German in Marburg, translated into Dutch and French and printed by Plantin. This was most probably Ortelius’ source. Staden tells that the Tupinamba Indians go naked and that the women have long hair. He mentions a head dressing of red feathers called "Kannitare". They also impress precious stones into their skin and sleep in hammocks and know how to handle bow and arrows. They eat their killed enemies and impale their heads around their villages. The bells around America’s right leg form part of their ceremonies and they ring during their rhythmic dances. The cudgel is not an ordinary weapon, like the bow, but is a ritual instrument, only to be used in the ritual killing of a captive during a religious ceremony, and this is portrayed in Staden’s Plantin edition of 1558, which Ortelius bought from Plantin in 1559. The poem by Mekerchius following the title page says about America:

"America is shamelessly naked
As a barbarian she grows and lives on human flesh,
This is proved by the bloody head in her hand.
In the other she has a cudgel which she uses
To kill people which she fattens for that purpose.
Her weapons consist of sharp arrows and strong bows
There are feathers in her clothes and hat
She also possesses precious stones
As proved by her forehead, and her legs are embellished
With resounding bells, a gorgeous ornament
And in a net woven from cotton,
She truly sleeps between two trees".

At the right side of the foreground, close to America, there is an incomplete figure representing Terra Magellanica or Terra del Fuego, the land of Magelhaes or of fire, referring to the report of Magelhaes that he saw fire when crossing the straits named after him, indicating unknown inhabitants of this land. Australia had not yet been discovered in Ortelius’ time, but the world map and the Asia map show that it was thought to exist. Ortelius calls it "the Southern land, not yet explored". The idea of a Southern land came from Mercator, who noticed that land and sea on his world map were unevenly distributed over the Northern and Southern hemisphere, and that for the necessary equilibrium of the world, there had to be more land on the Southern hemisphere. Mekerchius has these lines on her:

"Magellanica is nowadays not known
Except as a place with a head at the straits
Of Magelhaes, and therefore thus portrayed
The body has not received a shape
Since nobody as yet has been able to understand
What she is like, savage or civilised
Only ornated by burning fire
For when Magelhaes first came there
He only saw some fire at many spots
And therefore the Spanish in their language
Call it Terra del Fuego and though now without dikes
Time will eventually tell".

No map text available

No bibliographical sources available

No topographical names available