"Fori Iulii Accurata Descriptio", Ortelius, Abraham

Fine map covers the region from Venice north to the Italian Alps and east to Trieste and Istri, with a good view of Venice floating on several islands in its protected lagoon. The sheet is embellished with a large sea monster, ships, a wind compass and four strapwork cartouches. The map was based on the cartography of Johannes Sambucus, which was in turn based on an anonymous Venetian map of Friuli from the 1560's. This example is the first state with French text on verso, published in 1581.

References: Van den Broecke #119.

Condition: B+

A nice impression with a few small stains along the centerfold at bottom, light show-through of text on verso, and light toning along the edges of the sheet.