"Erythraei sive Rubri Maris Periplus, olim ab Arriano Descriptus, nunc Vero ab Abrah. Ortelio ex Eodem Delineatus", Ortelius, Abraham

This map from Ortelius' series of historical maps covers from Egypt to Indonesia as far as Java with a large inset of the eastern Mediterranean Sea centered on Greece. In the upper right is an inset of the North Pole (Hyperborei) included by Ortelius to remind his readers that despite recent attempts, a passage to the Far East via the North Pole had not yet been found. To balance the composition Ortelius included an inset of Annonis Periplus in the upper left corner. This map represents the Northwest coast of Africa showing part of the explorations of the ancient King Hanno from Carthogo, who legend says was the first to sail around the continent of Africa to reach the Arabian sea. A very graphic and unusual map in fine full color with a fully stippled sea. Latin text on verso, dated 1597 but published 1624.

References: Van den Broecke #224.

Condition: A

A crisp impression on a clean, bright sheet with light show-through of text on verso at left, a tiny centerfold separation in the image at top that has been repaired on verso with archival materials, and a few minor spots in the blank margins.