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Bidding has ended on this item. Item:1624 (1595) ORTELIUS Map ANCIENT EGYPT Fine Example!  |
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Antiqua 51 x 36 cm copperplate engraving, 58.5 x 46.5 cm sheet size, modern hand colour, Antwerp, engraved 1595, printed 1624 We
are pleased to offer this scarce original map of Ancient Egypt
from the Theatrum
Orbis Terrarum of
Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598), the first true atlas in the modern
sense. This
example of "historical cartography" was presented in the Parergon
section of the Theatrum,
and Ortelius based the content of the map mainly on the writings
of Pliny, Strabo, Herodotus and other classical
authors.
On the title page of the Parergon
section of the atlas, Ortelius notes that these historical maps "are
published separately from the Theatrum,
where places are shown as they are in the present day" and that he
"includes them as a supplement at the instigation of
friends." No
matter the self-effacing introduction, it is evident that Ortelius put
far more personal effort into the maps of the Parergon
than the "present day" maps of the Theatrum
which
in most cases were entirely composed by other cartographers.
This
"sideways" eastern oriented plate is bisected by the Nile and replaces
a northern oriented two sheet map of
Ancient Egypt that Ortelius first published in 1584; this
1624 printing was issued by Balthasar Moretus (1574-1641),
publishing just the Parergon
maps
as a separate work. A map of deep scholarship, it is also a
wonderfully decorative masterpiece of the engraver's art and this very
well preserved example will make a superlative
presentation if matted and framed.
Many of the ornate cartouches used by Ortelius' engravers were in fact taken from a series of ornament prints designed by the brilliant painter, architect and graphic artist Hans Vredeman de Vries. This handsome title cartouche presents a quotation from Book Eight of Lucan's Civil War (Pharsalia) "A land content in its wealth, needing no aid from Jove but relying upon the Nile":
Memphis and environs - note pictorial representation of island tombs in the manmade Lake Moeris, the Egyptian Labyrinth near the City of Crocodiles and of course, the "Pyramides" near Memphis:
Inset map for Alexandria and environs with a notation explaining that here additional placenames are presented that the scale of the main map precluded:
To get a sense of map detail consider that the distance from the top of the mainmast to the waterline on the tiny ship shown in the Gulf of Suez measures just 2 cm actual size. Note pictorial depiction of the Troicus Mountains with notation that the stone for the Pyramids was dug here:  Note reference to "Tabennam" - better known as Tabennisi this was the site of the first Cenobitic monastery founded by Pachomius in the 4th century and generally considered the birthplace of Christian monasticism. Also noted are the "Catadupi" of the Nile, i.e. the cataracts. Here Ortelius would have turned to Pliny the Elder's description of the Nile: "Its
waters then hastening onwards, it is borne along to the spot in the
country of the Aethiopians which is known by the name of "Catadupi;"
where, at the last Cataract, the complaint is, not that it flows, but
that it rushes, with an immense noise between the rocks that lie in its
way: after which it becomes more smooth, the violence of its waters is
broken and subdued, and, wearied out as it were by the length of the
distance it has travelled, it discharges itself, though by many mouths,
into the Egyptian sea. During certain days of the year, however, the
volume of its waters is greatly increased, and as it traverses the
whole of Egypt, it inundates the earth, and, by so doing, greatly
promotes its fertility.
Nile delta:
Nearby his 1595 publishing privilege Ortelius dutifully provides a list a regions, towns, peoples, mountains, rivers and islands mentioned by ancient writers but of uncertain location. Indeed, Ortelius certainly intended his map to be consulted in conjunction with reading accounts of Egypt by ancient historians - the fact that his scholarship yielded such an extensive list shows the depth of his research in compiling the map:
Ortelius' Latin text on verso is
a fascinating document in and of itself - representative excerpts
presented below are derived from the 1606 English edition
published
in London:
...Eusebius writes that in this one country of Egypt there were more cities than in all the rest of the world and that besides their boast of great antiquity, the Egyptians still had 20,000 cities in the time of their King Amasis. Diodorus Siculus in his time wrote that there were 3000. Although we have most diligently sought all such names out of writings and monuments of antiquity we could not find mention of many more than 300, as the map will give you to understand... ...some say the Egyptians were the first men to worship the sun, moon and stars as immortal gods. But Holy Scripture and secular writers alike demonstrate that in their gods such as Isis, Osiris etc. they foolishly venerated and consecrated all kinds of beasts and living creatures. They put into their inventory of gods the crocodile, the ox, the lion, the bear, the goat, the monkey, the ape, the bull, the ram, the hog, the dog, the Indian rat, the wolf, the sheep, the weasel and the shrew mouse...  Condition - Please note carefully: Map is in overall excellent condition as can be ascertained from photos, image area essentially pristine, strong impression with distinct platemark, fine laid paper with watermark. Part of original binding strip (~ 1 cm wide along centrefold) is present on verso; its outline and some associated minor soft creasing is faintly visible along centrefold on recto as is usual. Some minor creases and a couple trivial spots are present in margins, well outside image area. The hand colouring on this example of the map is of the very finest calibre and the map will make an elegant presentation if matted and framed. Inquiries welcome and we encourage you to visit our other auctions on eBay. Note: Final auction price includes insured shipment within continental United States. All other customers to pay actual shipping costs via traceable means including full insurance. 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