Name of mapValentiae Regni
CartographerOrtelius (1527-1598)
Stock number5599
Map numberOrt 29; (Koeman Atlantes Neerlandici III): 93/IV
State number of plate1
Copy from edition1592 Latin; Page signature: 19
Estimated number of copies printedonly one known
Area displayedValencia and surroundings
Plate size350 x 503 mm
Paper size442 x 566 mm
Margins, left34 mm, right: 36 mm
upper42 mm, lower: 51 mm
Paper thickness and qualityheavy and strong
Paper colorwhite and fresh
Age of map coloruncolored
Imperfections
marginsupper margin expertly repaired
plate areanone
versonone
Overall qualityperfect/excellent/very good/good/fair/mediocre/poor
Price€1200 Additional remarks: this plate has not been recorded elsewhere, and prints only occur regularly in the 1584 third Additamentum, rarely in later atlases. The text is similar to texts on the later Valentiae plate occurring in the 1595 and 1612 Latin editions. Close inspection of the engraving, as was performed with the well-known Dutch typographer and engraving expert Gerrit Noordzij revealed that: - the general quality of craftmanship of engraving is poor, as exemplified in clumsy curls, little variation, strong helping lines in e.g. the text portion of the cartouche, awkward lettering etc. - guiding lines and try out lines have been engraved on the plate very lightly, which show up under close inspection and strong magnification. Normally, drawings are carbon-papered unto the plate to be engraved, providing the full engraving plan. In this specific instance, various try out lines have been engraved instead, prior to the definitive engraving lines, for which often slightly different locations have ultimately been chosen. Thus, it seems fair to assume that this copperplate has been used for this (and perhaps a few other) prints, since its quality was considered to be below the standard of other Theatrum plates. Probably a different engraver has been commissioned to engrave a new plate instead, which became the subsequent Ort 30 Valentiae.