Publications

For articles by Marcel van den Broecke see
http://www.orteliusmaps.com/ort_background.html#essays

Books:

Ortelius Atlas Maps, an illustrated guide

Hardcover, 308 pages.
Marcel P.R. van den Broecke
Price: Euro 57 ISBN 90 6194 308 6, 1996
HES Publishers B.V.,
The Netherlands

You can read book reviews on this first edition.

For autographed copies contact the author at info@orteliusmaps.com.

This book is meanwhile sold out and is out of print.  A completely rewritten second edition of this work,
containing 708 pages, has been published by Hes & de Graaf publishers on June 9, 2011.
See also: http://www.hesdegraaf.com/Book/Detail/ortelius-atlas-maps-an-illustrated-guide-second-revised-edition

Review of this book in Brussels International Map Collectors’Circle (BIMCC) no. 42 of January 2012

For collectors of Ortelius maps and all those interested in the subject, the first edition of this book dating from 1996
has been a most valued companion these past 15 years. As demand fir it continued from the time it went out of
print a few years ago, the publishers thought of a reprint, but the author, having accumulated an enormous amount
of new material since then, proposed a significantly revised and enlarged new edition, which is now before us.
Let us see how the original editorial outline of the guide’s first edition has been adapted for this one. The previously
established identification number of maps appearing in the first (1570) and later editions of the Theatrum Orbis
Terrarum (until 1641), also called the ‘vdB’ number in reference literature by antiquarians and others, has obviously
been kept. It had been allocated by the author to maps in the order usually presented by Ortelius in his atlas. If more
than one map of an area occurs in the course of later editions, then these maps are presented consecutively, to allow
comparison. As before, each map is illustrated with a small black and white photograph measuring about 7.5 x 10
cm. This is followed by the title of the map, together with a transcription and English translation of all the text entries
found on the map – a most welcome addition. Next come the familiar items of plate size, and approximate scale.
Attached to the Ortelius identification number are the habitual coded references to cartobibliographies by Koeman,
Meurer and Karrow, plus a new reference to Peter van der Krogt’s revised edition of Koeman’s Atlantes Neerlandici
Volume IIIA that became available in 2003.
The next entry is ‘Occurrence in Theatrum editions and page numbers’.
Whilst this was previously given in a few lines, it has been significantly augmented here. In addition to the listing of
all editions in which a given map appears by year, language and page number, we now find end-lines of text on verso
quoted which permit positive identification of as given map. The estimated number of copies has been updated from
recent research, as was the number of states on record (previously 372, at present 524), and their cartographic sources.
Most entries now end with newly added bibliographical remarks and, where available, with references to publications
on that particular map.
All this may seem rather technical, but it is the fruit of many years of intensive research by the author, presented in a
compact yet user-friendly form. It allows the map enthusiast and specialist to confidently identify the origin and date
of any of the 229 loose Ortelius map sheets described, as it is in this format that they are usually acquired by the
collector. Those in possession of an entire volume of  the Theatrum are referred to van der Krogt’s above mentioned
cartobibliography which, in addition to the Theatrum editions, also records the smaller-size versions called Epitome,
not addressed here.
Observant readers might now wish to argue about the number of 229 plates mentioned, since the first edition
enumerated 234 plates. The explanation is that van den Broecke’s research has shown six of the plates previously
listed to be later states of existing plates. Their identification numbers have been skipped, so as not to change the
numbering sequence. One new plate (of the Americas) has turned up – a fascinating story to read – and this has been
given a ‘bis’ number, so that the total number of single sheet maps considered here is indeed 229.
Needless to say, the introductory chapters about Ortelius as a person, his concept for the creation of the Theatrum,
its history, and corresponding overview tables, the indices of maps by area and by title, as well as advice on how to
use this guide have all been brought in line with new findings and contents. Collectors will also appreciate the inclusion
of title pages and portraits preceding the corpus of maps.
In connection with text quotations from the Theatrum, the reader should be referred to van den Broecke’s recent
publication Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570-1641)- Characteristics and development of a sample of on
 verso texts, Utrecht, Koninklijk Aardrijkskundig Genootschap nr. 380, Faculteit Geowetenschappen, Universiteit
Utrecht, 307 pp., which was reviewed in BIMCC Newsletter no. 35, September 2009. Much more on this specific
subject may be found on the authors website www.orteliusmaps.com
Obviously, in the handling of such a vast volume of data the occurrence of the one or other slight mishap is
understandable. The author mentioned one to me, which is the inadvertent replacement of the photograph of map
Ort 103 (Silesiae Typus, new plate) by the one of Ort 104 (Moraviae…). Personally I find the map photographs
lack a bit of the contrast they offered on the glossy paper of the first edition, but they are still entirely adequate
as a means of identification. One may also find it a little difficult to recognize at a glance the rather small print of
the map reference number at the top of the right hand page, much less visible than in the first edition. But this is
simply a question of getting used to.
The dust jacket of the first edition revealed the decorative splendour of the map of the Pacific (Ort 12). This time
the binding shows, in exquisite colour, the most appealing map of the coast of Genoa (Ort 126) in which some
cartouches serve to frame the publisher’s designs. Both images bring home a point that remains much alive in our
circles: a certain fascination with Ortelius. His work continues to animate map enthusiasts’ discussions and research
endeavours. This new edition has taken shape akin to that of a bible – a form which admirably matches its
cartobibliographic mission as a guide to the appreciation and understanding of all the maps created by Ortelius.

Wulf Bodenstein.

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   

The Portolan, Issue 83, p. 64-65, Spring 2012, review by Fredric Shauger
of Marcel van den Broecke’s (2011) Ortelius Atlas Maps, an Illustrated Guide. Second revised edition.

Just as Mozart’s music is catalogued by Köchel numbers – piano concerto twenty-one in C major is
K.467 – the maps in Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum are catalogued by van den Broecke numbers -
the map of Greece is vdB.146. That innovative numbering system was introduced in Marcel van den Broecke’s
first edition of Ortelius Atlas Maps: an Illustrated Guide, published in 1998. Now comes a second edition, which
has expanded from 308 to 708 pages. This new edition costs $ 115,  takes up more shelf space and has rendered
the earlier edition obsolete. Was a second edition necessary?
A new edition is not the only way to update and correct error in a cartobibliography. A supplement was issued
to the four volume Tooley’s Dictonary of Mapmakers. Although Rodney Shirley published four editions of his
Mapping of the World, he has recently opted to publish additions and corrections to that edition on-line.
Don McGuirk eliminated the need for new print editions by publishing The Last Great Cartographic Myth:
Mer de l’Ouest in electronic format. All corrections and additions will be published in the same manner. So how
is one to judge whether a new print edition of van den Broecke’s ground breaking book was needed? The answer
lies in the new information included in the second edition. It is not simply that the number of pages have more
than doubled, but whether there is so much more important information that only a new edition would suffice.
Numerous editions of the Theatrum were published between 1570 and 1641. Over the years, many of the maps
became separated. One of the main purposes of van den Broecke’s original “guide” to the Theatrum was to
identify the source edition of a loose map. While each pictured map in the first edition includes the dates, page
numbers and languages of the on verso text – the printed material on the reverse of the maps –  there were many
instances where texts with the same language and page number were from different editions. In those cases,
there was no way to differentiate among them. For example, the map of the East Indies, vdB.166, had four
Latin editions on page 48 of the Theatrum, two on page 63, and three on page 108. Knowing the page number
and that the reverse was in Latin did not enable you to identify the source edition. Van den Broecke acknowledged
the deficiency in his original “guide” when he acknowledges on page 35 “in most cases sufficient information is
provided to help you find out from which specific edition a loose map stems” (Emphasis supplied). That
uncertainty was rectified in the new second edition.
That a second edition was forthcoming became evident in 2008 when van den Broecke published Ortelius´
Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570/1641) –Characteristics and Development of a sample of on verso map
texts ( Reviewed in The Portolan, Issue no. 76, winter 2009, pp. 60-61). In that book, van den Broecke
analyzed 10 of the 226 on verso texts that appeared throughout the publication history of Ortelius’ atlas.
He compared the seven languages used, their fonts, changes, spacing and length. He had previously learned
that each edition had a unique on verso text. Here then was the remedy to the deficiency acknowledged in his
first edition. That remedy, however, created a new problem. Van den Broecke’s 2008 work was 278 pages
and it only discussed 10 texts. All of the 226 on verso texts numbered 6 million words. Including all texts
in their entirety would make a new edition of Ortelius Atlas Maps thousands of pages long. The solution
was a second print edition containing the last lines of each of the 226 on verso texts. All the unique elements
of each text were published on van den Broecke’s website (www.orteliusmaps.com). It was now possible to
accurately identify the source of any loose Theatrum map.
In addition to including all the different title pages and portraits of Ortelius, van den Broecke expanded the
biographical information, the “survey” of Theatrum editions and updated prior entries. In the first edition
there were pictures of each map, its title and all cartouche texts. In the second edition, that information
remained, but all texts on the maps, whether included in a cartouche or not, were quoted and translated
into English. Two examples will suffice to demonstrate the expanded information available in van den
Broecke’s second edition. The map of Iceland, vdB.161, in the first edition has a photo of the map and
the Latin name Islandia. The ten-year license to publish and the information in the lower right cartouche
are quoted. In the new edition, that information remains but is supplemented by all of the other textual
information about Iceland appearing on the map. For example, its fauna, history, volcanoes, mines, and
”beer-like” fountain are presented in both Latin and English. In his first edition, van den Broecke listed
the editions of the Theatrum in which the Iceland map appeared by date, language and page. The new
edition also has the last line of the on verso texts for all Iceland maps along with their idiosyncrasies.
(In the 1601 Latin edition, page 103, certain words are in Gothic script). Unlike the first edition, there is
a paragraph for “remarks”. As a result of all this additional information, a one-page description is now
three. From the Parergon, the description of the map of the British Isles, vdB.192, is one page in the
original edition. The texts in the three cartouches are quoted. In the second edition the Latin and English
translations appear, along with all additional texts, for example, the Orkney Islands are “about thirty in
number” and the location where Caesar landed is identified. Again, the information about “occurrences”
of the map is supplemented by the distinguishing texts from the reverse side. In the “remarks” section
is a comment that the on verso text is one of the longest in the Theatrum”. The description of this map
is expanded to two and a half pages.
Was a new edition of van den Broecke’s work necessary? Yes. The second edition actually fulfills the
promise of the first. Thanks to van den Broecke for his dedication and devotion to this enormous task.

- Washington Map Society member (and President of the New York Map Society) Fredric (Fred)
Shauger is a collector of maps of places where he and his wife Eilene have traveled. The source of
his copy of Ortelius’ map of the East Indies, vdB.166, was identified in an email from van den Broecke
after Shauger was unable to make that de termination from the first edition. His previous reviews in
The Portolan were of Ortelius’Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570-1641). Characteristics and
development of a sample of on verso map texts (Issue 76) and The Last Great Cartographic Myth:
Mer de l’Ouest (Issue 82).
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Latere staat.

Kenners weten waar ze moeten zijn als ze ‘Ort62’ of ‘vdB62’ in een voetnoot bij de beschrijving van
een topografische kaart van ’s werelds eerste atlasmaker lezen. Ze zullen onmiddellijk naar het door
Marcel van den Broecke vervaardigde naslagwerk over de kaarten van Ortelius grijpen. Omdat de eerste
druk van Ortelius Atlas Maps uit 1996 al even uitverkocht was, vroeg uitgever Bas Hesselink de auteur
of een herdruk kon worden gemaakt. Van den Broecke maakte van de gelegenheid gebruik om zijn
geïllustreerde gids uit te breiden met recentelijk ontdekte kaarten, bijgewerkte verwijzingen en referenties,
en vertalingen van de Latijnse titels.
Vanaf de verschijning in 1570 was de Theatrum Orbis Terrarum van de vooraanstaande Antwerpse boek-
en prenthandelaar Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) een inslaand succes. Hoewel de monumentale wereld-
atlas een van de duurste boeken van het moment was, gingen er tot 1641 zo’n 8225 exemplaren over de
toonbank, in niet minder fan 32 edities. Zo kreeg de wereld steeds meer kleur.
Van den Broecke demonstreert dat de edities onderling nogal verschillen: de kwaliteit van de gravures
ging door het vele herdrukken achteruit en door de toenemende geografische kennis moesten de koper-
platen waarvan de kaarten gedrukt werden worden vervangen of bijgewerkt. Deze gids laat per kaart
zien op welke plek en in welke editie van de Theatrum zij voorkomt, en in welk opzicht een latere staat
van eerdere staten afwijkt. Meestal zijn het bijschriften die werden aangepast, soms de decoratieve
randen. Een enkele keer gaat de droge opsomming van platen, oplagen en staten tot de verbeelding spreken,
als de zee opeens heftiger of ruwer gegraveerd blijkt te zijn. Of als een illustratief fregat niet meer met bolle
zeilen voor de wind gaat, maar aan de wind, met het achtersteven naar de kijker toe.
Zoals het verboden is om zelfs maar te kijken naar een tweede druk van Elsschots Kaas te kijken zonder
Wilma Schumachers bibliografie te raadplegen, zo is het ongeoorloofd om een kaart uit Ortelius’ Theatrum
Orbis Terrarum te bestuderen zonder een blik te werpen in Ortelius Atlas Maps. Een goed naslagwerk
maakt zich onmisbaar, en dat is wat Marcel van den Broecke heeft gedaan.

Deze bespreking van Marcel van den Broecke, Ortelius Atlas Maps. An illustrated guide, second revised
edition (2011) verscheen in De Boekenwereld, jrg. 28, afl. 1 (oktober 2011).

Translated into English:

Later state.

Connaisseurs know where to turn to when they read ‘Ort62’ or ‘vdB62’ in a footnote to a description
of a topographical map of the first maker of an atlas in the world. They will immediately reach for the
reference work about maps by Ortelius written by Marcel van den Broecke. Since the first edition of his
Ortelius Atlas Maps from 1996 has been out of print for a while, publisher Bas Hesselink asked the author
of a reprint should be made. Van den Broecke made use of this occasion to enlarge his illustrated guide
with maps that were recently discovered, with corrections, references and translations of Latin titles.
From the appearance in 1570 onwards, the atlas Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, made by the Antwerp trader
in books and prints, Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) was an astounding success. Although this monumental
world atlas was one of the most expensive books of that time, until 1641 no less than 8225 copies were sold
in no less than 32 editions. Thus, the world was embellished.
Van den Broecke demonstrates that there are marked differences between editions: the quality of the engravings
diminished because of the numerous reprints and because of advances in geographical knowledge, copper
plates used for the prints had to be replaced or updated. This guide shows for each map in which edition
and in which state it occurred, and to what extent a later state differs from a previous state. Mostly, inscriptions
were modified and updated, sometimes changes in the decorations occurred. Occasionally, the listing of
plates, number of copies printed and states appeal to the imagination, when a sea suddenly becomes wavier
or stormy. Or it turns out that a ship no longer with full sails approaches us, but is turned around and now
sails away.
In the same way as it is forbidden to read a second edition of van Elsschots Kaas [a classical book in Dutch
literature] without consulting Wilma Schumachers bibliography, similarly it is unwise to study a map from
Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum without consulting Ortelius Atlas Maps. A good reference work is
indispensable and that is what Marcel van den Broecke has achieved.

This review of Marcel van den Broecke Ortelius Atlas Maps. An illustrated guide, second, revised edition
(2011) appeared in De Boekenwereld [The World of Books], year 28, issue 1, October 2011.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Review in Caert-Thresoor (31) pp. 60-61, 2012(2)

Wanneer een succesboek na zowat 15 jaar een tweede uitgave kent, verwacht de lezer zekere aanpassingen.
Maar dat ze zo omvangrijk zijn als in het geval van de gids van Orteliuskaarten door van den Broecke is
niet zo gebruikelijk. Men kan gerust zeggen dat de gids niet bijgewerkt maar wel herbewerkt is. De opzet
van het boek is niet gewijzigd, de opvolging en nummering van de kaarten bijven dezelfde, dus onderverdelingen
van een land na de algemene kaart, zelfs al is de plaat niet opgenomen in de eerste uitgave van het Theatrum
Orbis Terrarum. Evenals in de eerste uitgave van de gids in 1996 is er dus geen chronologische opvolging, wel
een geografische.
Door de toevoegingen is het aantal bladzijden echter meer dan verdubbeld. Dit komt doordat nu de volledige
titels in het Engels vertaald zijn, de tekst van de cartouches opgenomen en vertaald is en de opname in de
verscheidene uitgaven van het Theatrum met taal en paginering is aangevuld door de laatste regel van de tekst
op de keerzijde, met situering op het blad. Aldus is het zeer gemakkelijk geworden zelfs losse bladen thuis te
brengen in hun respectievelijke uitgave. Ook is cursief of Gotisch schrift vermeld.
Met 524 staten zijn er 152 bijgekomen ten opzichte van de eerste uitgave van de gids, en het aantal platen terug
gebracht tot 229, omdat verwarring met latere staten opgeheven werd. Zo komt het dat enkele nummers niet
meer bestaan, namelijk Ort 27, 64, 74, 188, 195 en 225. Ort 0 werd gegeven aan het titelblad van het Theatrum
en Ort 178 aan de titel van het Parergon, ter vervanging van wat uitviel als een kopie door Janssonius. Hier is
dus een kleine discrepantie ten opzichte van de uitgave van 1996 wat de plaat betreft. Zelfde nummering betekent
echter niet dat er geen wijzigingen in de opname van platen in de uitgaven van het Theatrum hebben plaatsgevonden.
Een voorbeeld hiervan geldt voor Valencia (Ort 29 en 30) waarvoor ook bronnen en referenties bijgevoegd werden
en opmerkingen aangepast zijn.
Het aantal kopieën per uitgave van het Theatrum en in het totaal wordt opnieuw geraamd, het identificatienummer
bij Van der Krogt is bijgevoegd bij de drie vorige en de literatuur is bijgewerkt, zowel bij de kaarten als in de lijst
op het einde van de gids. Het gaat hier voor een deel om teksten in het Nederlands uitgegeven, waar uitgebreid
onderzoek over Ortelius heeft plaatsgevonden. Gezien het enorme opzoekwerk dat van den Broecke geleverd
heeft, had men misschien ook minder toegankelijke referenties kunnen verwachten, bijvoorbeeld voor Cyprus
of Roemenië? Bij de kartografische bronnen heeft de auteur gebruik gemaakt van het onderzoek verschenen na
1996, en heeft hij ook de door Ortelius in zijn Catalogus Auctorum vermelde namen opgenomen, evenals verwijzing
naar de briefwisseling verzorgd door Hessels.
In de eerste uitgave van de gids waren titel en nummer in vetdruk, wat beter uitkwam. Nu is een zeer duidelijke tabel
van de geraadpleegde uitgaven van het Theatrum Orbis Terrarum met bewaarplaats toegevoegd aan de lijsten van
facsimiles en van alle kaarten, met referentie naar Van der Krogt en het aantal staten. De inleidende teksten zijn
aangepast.
Voor iedere kaart geeft van den Broecke een kleine zwart-wit foto, echter minder duidelijk dan in de eerste uitgave.
Hij vermeldt dat de afbeelding niet noodzakelijk de eerste staat weergeeft, wat het geval is voor Artois (Ort 72) waar
een cartouche een schip vervangt. Dit laat vergelijking toe met Ort 73, maar de titels van de twee platen zijn op
zichzelve reeds voldoende verschillend om verwarring te voorkomen. Voor Henegouwen (Ort 69 ss) zijn de fotos
juist, maar richt van den Broecke de aandacht niet op de wapenschilden die op de volgende staten links-rechts
omgewisseld zijn, wat reeds vroeger sommige auteurs opgevallen was. Daarentegen heeft hij zelf elders attent
gemaakt op de foutieve foto Ort 103, Moravië in plaats van Silezië. Voor twee kaarten wordt de vertaling van de
opdracht (Ort 26) of de cartouche (Ort 34) gegeven, maar de Latijnse tekst ontbreekt, wat niet gebruikelijk is voor
de andere platen. Province voor Provence is waarschijnlijk een tikfout voor Ort 47. In de wereldkaart (Ort 1-3)
wordt eenzelfde zin over papagaaien driemaal verschillemnd vertaald! Dat zulke kleinigheden in een recensie
vermeld worden is het beste bewijs van de uitstekende kwaliteit van deze gids. Hij zal niet allen door Ortelius-
enthousiasten met vreugde onthaald worden, ook voor bibliothecarissen en antiquariaatsboekhandelaars
betekent hij een onmisbare en welkome hulp.

Lisette Danckaert

In translation:

When a successful book has a second edition after 15 years, the reader expects some adaptations. But so many
as is the case in the present guide of Ortelius maps is not common. One could say that this work is not revised but
rewritten. The approach used has not been modified, the sequence and numbering of the maps remain the same,
with parts of a country after the whole country, even if the plate is not included in the first edition of the Theatrum
Orbis Terrrarum.  Similar to the first edition of this guide in 1996, there is no chronological order, but there is
a geographical order.
But additions have more than doubled the number of pages. Now, all full titles on the maps are given in Latin and
English, as are texts of cartouches. Further, for each edition of the Theatrum, language and last line on verso are
given, and also location on the page. Thus, it has become easy to determine from which edition a loose map derives.
Cursive writing and Gothic script are also indicated.
Of the 524 states of maps, there is an increase of 152 compared to the first edition, and the number of plates has
been reduced to 229 because of elimination of confusions with later states. Therefore, some plate numbers no
longer exist, namely Ort 27, 64, 74, 188, 195 and 225. Ort 0 was given to the title plate of the Theatrum, and Ort 178
to the title page of the Parergon, replacing what turned out to be a copy of Janssonius. This is a minor discrepancy
with the plate of the 1996 edition. The same numbering does not mean that no changes have occurred since the
previous edition. As an example, we mention the plates of Valencia (Ort29 and 30), for which source and references
and remarks have been extended.
The number of copies per edition has been revised, the van der Krogt identification has been added to the other 3,
and new literature is introduced, both for individual maps and in the overall list at the end of the book. This concerns
partly texts in Dutch, where extensive new research has taken place. Because of the enormous literature searches
performed by van den Broecke, we might have expected less accessible references for e.g. Cyprus or Rumania.
For cartographic sources, the author has added research performed after 1996, has also added names mentioned by
Ortelius in his Catalogus Auctorum and references occurring in the letters of Hessels.
In the first edition of this guide, title and map number were printed more prominently. Now, a table has been added
listing the copies of the Theatrum consulted including their locations, facsimiles are listed, references to van der Krogt,
and number and description of states per map.
For every map, van den Broecke gives a small photograph which is less clear than in the first edition. He states that this
photograph does not necessarily represent the first state, which is for instance the case for Artois (Ort72) where a
cartouche replaces a ship. This allows comparison with Ort 73, but the different titles of the two plates are in itself
sufficient to prevent confusion of these two plates. For Henegouwen (Ort 69 and following) the photographs are
correct, but van den Broecke does not mention the shields which have been switched from left-right to right-left, as
some authors have noted. He has pointed out the mistake that Ort 103, Silesia, has the wrong picture of Moravia.
Province is a mistake for Provence, and the identical text for the 3 world maps about birds is not translated identically.
But the mere mentioning of these trifling details is the best proof of the excellent quality of this guide. It will not only
be welcomed warmly by those who are enthusiastic about Ortelius, but also by librarians and antique book dealers
it will mean an indispensable and welcome aid.

Lisette Dankaerts

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Review in Cartographica Helvetica Heft 46, 2012

Der Untertitel dieses Bandes weist darauf hin: es handelt sich nicht um einen Nachdruck des 1996 erstmals publizierten
Nachslagewerks, sondern um eine in grossem Umfang nachgeführte zweite Ausgabe,
Wie immer bei der erstmaligen Herausgabe solcher Referenzbücher kommen durch deren weltweite Verbreitung das
eine oder andere bisher unbekannte Blatt oder ein zusätzlicher Druckzustand ans Tageslicht. Marcel van den Broecke
hat diese Neuentdeckungen und Ergänzungen minutiös gesammelt und den Buchinhalt entsprechend erweitert.Zudem
sind neu alle Kartuschen und Textblöcke auf den Karten ins Englische übersetzt worden. Zur besseren Erkennung der
Druckausgabe ist dort, wo auf der Blattrückseite ein Text vorhanden ist, dessen letzte Zeile im korrekten Wortlaut
wiedergegeben. Sämtliche 238 Abbildungen sind – obschon “nur`` schwartzweiss und dem Format des Buches
entsprechend relative klein – sehr gut reproduziert und bestens geeignet zum Vergleich der verschiedene Ausgaben.
Seit der Erstpublikation ist die von Marcel van den Broecke entwickelte Nummerierung der einzelnen Orteliuskarten
zum internationalen Standart geworden. In Bibliotheksbeschreibungen, Händler- und Auktionskatalogen wird praktisch
ausschliesslich mit “van den Broecke” oder “vdB” referenziert... was mit diesem neu herausgegebenen Werk
zweifelsohne noch häufiger der Fall sein wird. Wer es vor Jahren verpasst hat, sich die Erstausgabe zu beschaffen,
sieht sich nun in der glückliche Lage, dies – und sogar in verbesserte Form – nachholen zu können.

Hans-Uli Feldmann

In translation:

The subtitle of this book points out that this is not a reprint of the reference work published in 1996, but is a largely
rewritten second edition.
As is usual for a second edition of a reference book of this kind, due to its world-wide distribution, some new
map sheets or new states will be found. Marcel van den Broecke has these new findings and additions minutely
collected and thus enlarged the contents of this book, Moreover, cartouches and text blocks on the maps have all
been translated into English. For better identification of the edition from which a map derives, if it has text on verso,
the last line of that text is given in original spelling. Altogether, the 238 illustrations are – although only in black and
white, and within the limitations of the size of the book, very well reproduced, and suitable to
compare the various editions. Since the first publication, the numbering of separate the maps by Ortelius, developed by
Marcel van den Broecke has become the international standard. In descriptions of libraries, in dealers’ and auction
catalogues, we almost always find references to “van den Broecke” of “vdB”, which with this newly edited work
undoubtedly will be the case even more often. Who missed the opportunity to buy the first edition is now in the
lucky position to make up for it, and that in improved shape.

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Review in The Book Collector vol. 61, no. 3 (2012)

Second of 3 books reviewed:

One of the works regularly cited by van der Krogt is the second book under review, written by the world expert on
Abraham Ortelius. The book is a much-expanded second edition of a guide that first appeared in 1996. Van der
Krogt will enable users to identify a map, but not to judge its state or the atlas from which the particular example
came. Van den Broecke enables the collector to do just that. His entries give the closing words of all the printed
texts that ever appeared on the map’s verso. This is particularly useful since Ortelius’ maps appeared in numerous
editions of his atlas in a number of languages spread over many decades. Van den Broecke describes the particular
features of each state. In addition he gives the full text, with English translations, not only of the title, but of every
word of the sometimes extensive texts on the face of the map, and gives an approximation of the number of copies
of the map that were printed, edition by edition, and references to further reading. To this are added remarks and
notes on the cartographic sources of the maps and a reference to van den Broecke’s Ortelius website, which
contains the complete descriptive texts that appear on the verso of the maps, a reading list of his publications,
and digital versions of some of his articles. As van den Broecke has demonstrated, the descriptive texts were
often radically altered to meet the expectations of the very different audiences, ranging from humanist scholars
to inquisitive business men with a rudimentary education. It is hard to imagine what more information the Ortelius
enthusiast could ask… Lack of sensitivity to the world beyond the Netherlands is evident. Just to take the English
maps, it is typified by his translation of de dedication on Ortelius’s reduced size copy of the Jenkinson map of
Moscovy. Van den Broecke has it dedicated to “Lord Henry Sidneus, leader of the Walliae” – readers may have
difficulty in recognising him as Henry Sidney, President of the Council of the [Welsh] Marches. Elsewhere (p 116)
he gives the wrong date for the publication of Lily´s important map of Great Britain and (p. 580) gives the
impression that Saxton’s 1579 map of England and Wales was a source for Ortelius’s 1590 map of Scotland.
These are minor aspects of a book that will be useful for collectors and it is hoped that there will be a future
edition in which these few imperfections will be ironed out.

Peter Barber

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Review in IMCoS Journal, Winter 2012, Number 131, p. 32-33

By Alfred Hiatt, Queen Mary, University of London.

Marcel van den Broecke’s Ortelius Atlas Maps, a vade mecum of Ortelius studies since its first appearance
in 1996, has been revised and expanded for its second edition. The format and purpose remains the same:
a detailed, usable, description of all the maps contained in the many editions of Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum
Orbis Terrarum. The revisions supplied in the 2011 edition are, however, far from cosmetic. Whereas in 1996
van den Broecke identified 234 plates of Ortelius maps, with 372 different states, he now describes 229 plates
with 524 states. The expansions are significant too. Not only is more information provided to the reader to enable
identification of each plate, van den Broecke now supplies translations of all cartouches and text blocks on the
maps. Indeed, the author’s industry cannot be contained within the printed book: the website www.orteliusmaps.com
supplies translations of the texts on the verso of the maps into English from Latin, Dutch, French, German, Spanish
and Italian. The happy effect of such labour is to reveal in striking detail the riches and complexities of Ortelius’
great work.
The meat of Ortelius Atlas Maps consists in the meticulous description of the 229 plates identified by van den
Broecke, and helpfully correlated with other major reference works in the field by Koeman, Meurer, Karrow, and
van der Krogt. Each entry begins with a small reproduction of the map in question, followed by its title, cartouches
and text blocks, size, scale, and often a lengthy list of occurrences in Theatrum editions, including – a second-
edition innovation – the final line of text on the verso of each map. Van den Broecke provides valuable comments
on the different states of each plate, sometimes correcting statements made in the first edition. Although such
commentary is necessarily concise, it manages to catch something of the serendipitous nature of map collection.
On page 101, for example, we are told that a plate of Ortelius´ map of the Americas not contained in the first
edition, and now numbered Ort11(1) was found ´in a chimney` ´near Gibraltar by the father of the present owner,
and drawn to the author´s attention `via the internet by a man living in Paris´.
Along with a list of plates, van den Broecke contributes a short biographical sketch of Ortelius and a useful short
history of the Theatrum. One comes away from the volume as a whole with a renewed appreciation of the range
and complexity of Ortelius´ production, as well as that of his successors. Scholars sometimes lazily think of the
Theatrum as a single work, but it was, of course, many and, as van den Broecke´s pioneering work on the on
verso map texts makes clear, its variety stemmed from Ortelius´ desire to reach different audiences, learned and
commercial, Latinate and vernacular.
There can be little doubt then that the second edition of Ortelius Atlas Maps builds and improves on the
achievements of the first. One minor caveat, however. The translations of Latin texts, mostly trustworthy,
are occasionally at fault. The description of the Belgii Veteris Typus (Ort197) incorrectly renders Ovid´s
nescio qua solum dulcedine cunctos ducit, et immemores non sini esse sui (Ex Ponto 1.3.35,36) as ``I do
know what has a sweet hold on all the native soil. It does not tolerate oblivion`. (correctly) I do not know
by what sweetness the native soil draws all men, and does not permit them to be forgetful of it. In the text
on the Romani Imperii Imago (Ort187), Lucius Brutus was not `by the kings banned from the city` but
rather he was made first consul  `after the kings were ejected and the city restored to liberty`. Secundum
antiquum et recentiorum situm on the map of Vindelicia-Bavaria (Ort109) means `In accordance with the
ancient and modern site`, not `the second ancient and modern site`. Small mistakes like this are inevitable
of the scope and ambition of van den Broecke´s and, for the most part, the author must be warmly thanked
for providing so many translations. In its first edition Ortelius Atlas Maps, like the Theatrum itself, served
many audiences, including collectors, scholars, and lovers of old maps. Its successor provides its readers
with riches upon riches.

=============================================================

Abraham Ortelius and the First Atlas

Essays commemmorating the Quadricentennial of his death 1598-1998
Editors: Marcel van den Broecke, Peter van der Krogt, Peter Meurer. hardcover, 430 pages.
Numerous illustrations, also in colour.
Price: Euro 169 . ISBN 90 6194 388 4, 1998
HES Publishers B.V.
The Netherlands

Reviews have appeared.

You can view the table of contents.

For autographed copies contact the author at info@orteliusmaps.com.

====================================================================================

Ortelius’ Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570-1641). Characteristics and development of a sample of on verso map texts.

Dissertation. Softcover, 304 pp., with CD-Rom.
Marcel van den Broecke
Price: Euro 30, including postage. ISSN 0169-4839 ISBN 978-90-6809-423-7 KNAG-NGS volume 380
Access: http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2009-0204-201006/UUindex.html

For autographed copies, for Euro 30, contact the author at info@orteliusmaps.com

Reviews:

In Cartographica Helvetica, Heft 40, 2009, p. 54:

Das in zahlreichen Auflagen ab 1570 in Antwerpen publizierte Theatrum Orbis Terrarum von Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) gilt als der erste Atlas, der die wesentlichen Merkmale zur Definition dieser Schriftengattung in sich vereinigt. Zu den kartographiehistorischen und kartenbibliographischen Aspekten dieses Themas gibt es inzwischen eine reiche Literatur. Ein weiteres, für mehr als als ein Jahrhundert bis um 1700 zum Typus Atlas gehörendes Merkmal findet sich ebenfalls erstmals bei Ortelius. Alle Karten des Theatrum haben auf der Rückseite einen erläuterende Text. Dieser weite Bereich war bisher vollständiges wissenschaftliches Neuland, in das die vorliegende Utrechter Dissertation eine breite Schneise der Exploration schlägt. Marcel van den Broecke kann hierfür eine akademische Qualifikation als Linguist und eine 25jährige aktive Leidenschaft für die Ortelius-Forschung verbinden.

Aus den knapp 230 Karten, die im Laufe von 35 Jahren im Theatrum erschienen sind, hat der Autor zehn für die Darstellung einer extensiven Analyse der Rückentexte ausgewählt. In der Verbindung von kartenhistorischer Fragestellung und linguistischer Methodik ist hier ein Flut von neuem Wissen entstanden. Aus den Ergebnissen seien die folgenden Punkte herausgestellt:
- innerhalb des Gesamtkonzeptes sind die Texte den Karten eindeutig nachgeordnet.
- im Inhalt geben sie Zuzatsinformationen zum topographischen Inhalt der Karte, vor allem zu historischen Fakten.
- bis um 1573 gibt es klare inhaltliche Unterschiede zwischen den akademischen Ausgaben in Latein und den volkssprachigen Ausgaben in Niederländisch, Deutsch und Französisch.
- die lateinische Basisfassungen der Texte hat Ortelius bis zu seinem Tode laufend erweitert und aktualisiert. Ihnen folgten dann die späteren Übersetzungen.
- bei den Quellen für seine Texte hatte de Autor Ortelius eine eindeutige Präferenz für antike Autoren gegenüber zeitgenössischen Darstellungen.
- die vielen Ausgaben der gleichen Texte in unterschiedlichen Sprachen sind eine Fundgrube für die heutige geographische Namen- und Begriffsforschung.
- die detaillierte typographische Analyse kommt hinsichtlich der Auflagen der Kartendrucke zu teilweise anderen Ergebnissen als die Betrachtung kompletter Atlasbände nur nach dem Impressum.
- Konzept und Inhalt der Rückentexte bei Ortelius haben die späteren Atlanten von Hondius und Blaeu, hingegen nicht die Atlanten der Zeitgenossen De Jode und Mercator beeinflusst.

Insgesamt hat Ortelius im Laufe der Jahre knapp 2000 Werke von ertwa 1300 Autoren zur Kompilation der Rückentexte benutzt. Ihre genaue Bibliographie und damit die Rekonstruktion seiner Handbibliothek - gegebenenfalls sogar mit Nachweis konkreter Exemplare – sind ein interessantes Thema der künftigen Ortelius-Forschung.
Die vorliegende Arbeit von Marcel van den Broecke stützt sich auf eine Analyse von etwa 10 000 unterschiedlichen Texten beziehungsweise Textfassungen, von denen nur ein Bruchteil exemplarisch dokumentiert werden kann. Dies reicht aber aus, um das angezeigte Buch für das Thema zum Mass aller Dinge zu machen.

Peter H. Meurer, Heinsberg.

 (in English translation):

The Theatrum Orbis Terrarum which was published by Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) in Antwerp from 1570 onwards in numerous editions is regarded as the first atlas, uniting as it does all essential features which define such a publication. Meanwhile, a rich literature concerning its carto-historical and carto-bibliographical aspects has developed. Another feature which presented itself for more than a century, until 1700 can also be found in Ortelius for the first time: all maps of the Theatrum have an explanatory text on verso. This additional characteristic so far has been completely unexplored scientific territory. This dissertation from Utrecht explores that territory extensively for the first time. Marcel van den Broecke for this purpose combines an academic qualification as a linguist with an active 25-year-old passion for Ortelius-research.
From the almost 230 maps which have appeared in the Theatrum in the course of 35 years, the author has selected 10 to present an extensive analysis of their on verso texts. The context of historical-cartographic research questions and linguistic methodology has resulted in a flood of new knowledge. We choose from these the following aspects:

- within the overall concept, the on verso texts refer to the maps, not the other way around.
- the contents of the texts support the topographical content of the maps, mostly with historical facts.
- until 1573, there are outspoken differences between the texts in editions for academics in Latin, as compared to the texts in the vernacular Dutch, German and French editions.
- the Latin text versions have been expanded and updated by Ortelius until his death. Translations from Latin follow this pattern.
- in the choice of sources for his texts, the author Ortelius has a clear preference for ancient authors as compared to contemporary text sources.
- the numerous editions in various languages containing similar texts are a treasure grove for current research in geographical names and concepts. 
- the detailed typographical analysis arrives as concerns the editions in which maps appeared, at partly different conclusions than those simply based on the impressum  of complete atlases.
- the concept and contents of on verso texts in Ortelius have influenced those in later atlases by Hondius and Blaeu, but not those by his contemporaries De Jode and Mercator.

Altogether, Ortelius has in the course of time utilized almost 2000 works by about 1300 authors to compile his on verso texts. Their precise bibliographies and therefore the reconstruction of his library, in some cases leading to references of concrete copies, are an interesting theme for future Ortelius-research.
The present study by Marcel van den Broecke is based on about 10,000 different text versions, about which a selection has been documented in an exemplary manner. This is sufficient to characterize the book about on verso texts discussed here as the Measure of All Things.

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In Brussels International Map Collectors’ Circle (BIMCC) no. 35, September 2009, p. 10-11:

After reading Marcel van den Broecke’s book, one wonders how he could ever summon enough courage and perseverance to struggle through the mountain of material confronting him. The basic idea was to understand why the texts on the verso of maps by Ortelius in the several editions of the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum published between 1570 and 1641 have been so seldom studied, in contrast to the abundant literature on the maps themselves. Van den Broecke even states, somewhat incorrectly, that they have never been studied. Granted, there is not yet a general research work done on them, but several papers (some to be found in the author’s bibliography!) are careful to include information provided by the text on verso. The author’s claim is to prove that loose maps can be identified from the several editions more accurately through the evolution and modification of the texts over the years than by the signature (the approach generally taken by most researchers) or through possible changes on the map itself.

For this purpose, ten maps were chosen among the 226 (Africa, Scotland, Low Countries, Como-Rome-Friuli, Hungary, Northern Regions, Russia, East Indies, Ancient Sicily, Ancient Greece), selecting items which represent interesting areas, and do not have unduly long texts, which appeared in all editions. The question arises as to why, after stating on page 139 that ‘it would have been preferable to use maps, which all start (and end) with the same edition’ the author preferred to use a different approach, apparently to introduce more sources. The exceptions to justify this aim are Scotland, which was first included in 1573, and two Parergon maps that are not present in the vernacular editions. Indeed, van den Broecke stresses the serious difference between two groups of texts. In the rather scholarly text in Latin, or the direct translations from this classical language such as Italian, Spanish and English, there are allusions to antiquity and bibliographical references missing in the French, Dutch and the first German translations, which, according to van den Broecke, were probably done by Ortelius himself and were intended for a broader audience, without classical training and with other preoccupations. The texts of the ‘classical’ editions underwent greater modification and updating of references.

The CD-ROM presents a reproduction of the ten maps together with all the relevant texts to show the discrepancies in presentation, typesetting, and, of course, contents. For the elaborate discussion in the book itself, the author chose what he calls two templates: a general translation in English based on the first edition with, in brackets, indications of changes in later publications; one template after the Latin text, one for the vernacular versions. It was, of course, impossible to transcribe in the book the full content of the texts without reaching monstrous proportions. Nevertheless, this procedure is open to question from linguists adept in the internationally accepted mode of rendering correctly and accurately a given text, even when indicating briefly the diverse origin of the variations. These changes often occur in the Latin versions, much less in the vernacular ones.

The numerous and extremely detailed tables set forth the editions, the number of modifications for the scholarly version, the increase in cartobibliographical sources, the differences in toponyms and names of persons according to language, and their occurrences in the relevant context with appropriate discussion. As this painstaking study was originally defended as a doctoral thesis, with an introduction, presentation, discussion, comparison of versions and lists of words, summaries of chapters and a general conclusion, there are repetitions. For example, the text for the two representations of Europe is fully transcribed on pages 231-232 and again on pages 246-247. These reiterations may appear somewhat tedious to the non-specialist reader interested only in pinpointing the exact edition of his or her map. If van den Broecke’s idea is taken up by a courageous scholar, examining the texts of all maps, it would perhaps not be necessary to go into them in such depth, checking each word to seek out minute discrepancies. And here there is an objection to van den Broecke’s statement that there is a difference in composition because a full stop after the title has been replaced by a diamond. This does not mean a complete resetting of the page; the pressing of a forme or printing frame can result in a type jumping out, needing just that one replacement which, of course, introduces a slight difference. Must this really be considered as another version or edition?

Although Ortelius owned a large library, it is perhaps an overstatement to advance the hypothesis that all his references and quotations came from his own books and codici. He could certainly have used the libraries of his numerous friends, first of all that of Plantin. To check the accuracy of Ortelius’ quotations from Plinius, referring to the volumes of the Loeb Classical Library seems a very strange procedure. Ortelius could only use what existed in his lifetime!

Marcel van den Broecke compares the text on the verso of Ortelius’ maps with those of other cartographers. Some were inspired by him, others hardly or not at all. Mercator cites fewer sources and chiefly contemporary ones, Ortelius mostly classical ones. For the map of Salzburg, both used Sebastian Münster. De Jode gives geographical and statistical information, often repeated from the blocks of texts on the map itself, while for Ortelius they are independent, but the text on verso referring to the map. De Jode gives fewer sources and quotations. Van den Broecke stresses the fact that, although Ortelius took some information for his maps from Bouguereau, he does not mention this author in his list. However in his own extensive list of authors who are cited in the 10 analyzed texts, he himself includes Statius who published Secco’s map of Portugal, but omits his last name.

In comparison with texts on Blaeu’s wall map of the Low Countries, van den Broecke curiously makes tiny errors in the translation, for instance ‘comté’ becoming ‘duchy’ instead of ‘county’, and he is not consistent in the rendering of city names, some translated, others not; he even introduces Dutch names where the original is French. Some printing mistakes occur, such as Cosmas Indicopleustes or Robert Karrow. Pinpointing these slips can serve to emphasize the quality of the research done by the author of this scholarly work.

The conclusion is that Ortelius’ texts on the verso of maps were pretty well innovations and helped to popularize academic knowledge, a real novelty.

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