Abraham Ortelius. Parergon sive Veteris Geographiae Aliquot Tabulae. (Antwerp, 1609). Folio (18x12”). Calfskin with gilt lettering and armorial stamp on cover. 38 double-page engraved maps and plates. Bound with Nomenclator Ptolemaicus (Antwerp, 1603). Condition as in photos.
From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection.
Parergon sive Veteris Geographiae Aliquot Tabulae by Abraham Ortelius, first published in 1595, this example in 1609, is a landmark atlas that showcases Renaissance-era cartography with a focus on classical history geography of the ancient world. This work is considered one of Ortelius' most significant contributions, as it provides a comprehensive view of historical and mythical geography based on ancient sources. The 1609 edition is identified by the title page featuring classical figures holding globes, symbolizing the atlas's focus on the geographical knowledge of antiquity.
The "Parergon" contains a series of maps and engravings that depict the ancient world, including maps based on the travels of famous figures like Homer, Virgil, St. Paul, Alexander the Great, and several biblical narratives. Some maps portray regions as they were understood in ancient times, such as the Roman Empire, Greece, Southern Asia, and Egypt. Others are dedicated to specific events or journeys from classical literature, including the wanderings of Aeneas and the voyages of Odysseus. Several pages include images of ancient coinage and imagery of significance to the study of classics. Ortelius meticulously compiled these maps using sources from classical geographers, historians, and scholars, including Ptolemy (circa 100–170 AD), Strabo (circa 64 BC–24 AD), Arrian (circa 86 – 160 AD), and Pliny the Elder (circa 23–79 AD) among others.
Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598) was a Flemish cartographer and geographer, widely celebrated as the creator of the first modern atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theater of the World), published in 1570. Born in Antwerp, Ortelius began his career as a map colorist and engraver before becoming a prominent map dealer. His contributions to mapping and atlases, what we refer to a modern geography, left a lasting impact on the history of cartography. His collaboration with many of the leading scholars of his time, helped foster an expansive network of knowledge exchange throughout Europe, and played a key role in laying the foundation for the age of enlightenment and discovery that would follow in the 17th and 18th centuries.
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