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1570

Typus orbis terrarum by Abraham Ortelius

Typus orbis terrarum by Ortelius

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Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598)
Typus orbis terrarum
World map specifically engraved for the atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum.
engraving; 33.5 x 49.8 cm
Antwerp: Plantjin, 1587 [1570]
National Library of Australia

http://nla.gov.au/nla.map-nk10001

The efforts of the Spanish to find a more direct route to the east from South America led to exploration in the Pacific. They encountered the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, as well as many smaller islands on their way to the Philippines. Typus orbis terrarum is the world map from an atlas by Abraham Ortelius.

Theatrum orbis terrarum is considered to be a cartographic masterpiece, and possibly the first 'modern' atlas in which maps were uniform in format and design. By 1612 more than 40 editions had been produced. On the world map, Tierra del Fuego in South America is shown as part of the vast southern land, Terra Australis Nondum Cognita, while New Guinea is shown as an island.