Ortelius
Italiae Novissima Descriptio
Antwerp, 1570
36.0 x 51.6 cms
Copper engraving
18610
excellent
$ 1000
Most sought-after and spectacular cornerstone map of Italy. The map is famous for the depiction of Neptune seducing a sea nymph, and is decorated with many sea monsters, sailing vessels and galleys.
"Among the many maps by the famous Italian geographer Jacopo Gastaldi which Ortelius copied was this map of Italy which appeared at Venice in 1543. The details are very good (e.g. the Dalmatian coast) but the geographical positioning is poor: the East-West dimension is two degrees too large. This mistake
dates from the time of Ptolemy."
(Koeman).