"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 the third state with stippling added behind the sea names. French text on verso.

References: Van den Broecke #26.

Condition: A

A sharp impression on a clean, bright sheet bearing the horn watermark commonly found on Ortelius maps. There are a couple of small worm holes in the image at top that have been professionally infilled, and a manuscript page number is below the neatline.