Italiae Novissima descriptio - Abraham Ortelius

Italiae Novissima descriptio. Rare copper engraving of 1570 with coeval coloring.Measurement of the engraved part 36.6 x 52 cm. Map of Italy based on the previous Gastaldi map, extracted from the "Theathrum Orbis Terrarum" by Ortelius. This specimen is one of 325 copies printed in 1570. The next edition of 1584, has the italic script and the newt and the mermaid are no longer embraced, but distanced, probably because of the Counter-Reformation that saw the outrageous embrace between two.The print is slightly browned, otherwise in good condition. Printed on laid paper with watermark. Engraved by Abraham Ortelius (Antwerp, 14 April 1528 - Antwerp, 28 June 1598) was a Flemish cartographer. Ortelius was the great founder of Flemish cartography with Mercatore.