"Portugalliae que olim Lusitania, Novissima & Exactissima Descriptio Auctore Vernando Alvaro Secco", Ortelius, Abraham

This is one of the earliest and most beautiful maps of Portugal. It is oriented with north to the right and richly adorned with two large cartouches, sailing ships and a very devilish-looking sea monster. The map is based on Fernando Alvarez Secco's map of 1560. The cartouche at bottom contains a dedication to Cardinal Camerlengo, Guido Ascanius Sfortia, from Secco that enumerates the great achievements of Portugal. This is from the first copper plate from the German edition of 1580, with German text on verso.

References: Van den Broecke #26.

Condition: B

Old color with some cracking in green pigment at bottom due to oxidation, but paper remains supple.