[MAP]. ORTELIUS, Abraham (1527-1598). Africae Tabula Nova. Antwerp, 1592.

Engraved map with hand-coloring. Matted, framed, and double glazed, visible area 406 x 533 mm (unexamined out of frame). Strapwork title cartouche, a grand sea battle (copied from Diego Gutierez’ wall map of the Americas), and several sea monsters. Latin text on verso. (A touch of light wear near centerfold, a few areas retouched.)

CONSIDERED THE CORNERSTONE MAP OF AFRICA which remained the standard map of the continent well into the seventeenth century, becoming one of the first modernized maps of Africa. Ortelius based his design on several contemporary sources including his depiction of the Nile River, which was based on the Ptolemaic concept, originating from two large lakes south of the equator. Ortelius introduced two important changes to the shapes of the continent on this map: the Cape of Good Hope is more pointed, and the eastward extension of the continent was reduced significantly. Norwich 10; Tooley, Africa p. 88; Van den Broecke Ort8.4 (1592L4).
Property from the Collection of Dr. K. William Harter, Alexandria, Virginia