Index of the Plates of Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum by Ortelius (Ort)-number


List of plates, used in the various editions of Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, with dates of their appearance and use, and with estimates of approximate number of prints.

vdB
number

Koeman/Meurer
number

vdKrogt New
Atlantes number

Name,
abbreviated

period
of usage

copies
printed

number
of states

0(1)

 

31:1A

Title page

1570L-1613D

4180

3

0(2)

 

31:1B

Title page

1571D-1574F

 725

1

0(3)

 

31:1C

Title page

1579L-1641S

2700

5

0(4)

 

 

Portrait Ortelius

1579L-1641S

6425

2

1

1

0001:31A

Typus Orbis

1570L-1584L

3600

6

2

112/II

0001:31B

Typus Orbis

1588S

 750

3

3

113

0001:31C

Typus Orbis

1587F-1612S

4000

3

4

5

1000:31A

Europae

1570L-1581F

2725

3

5

110

1000:31B

Europae

1584L-1612S

5250

1

6

3

8000:31A

Asiae

1570L-1574L

1675

1

7

93/I

8000:31B

Asiae

1575L-1612S

6700

1

8

4

8600:31

Africae

1570L-1612S

8175

6

9

2

9000:31A

Americae

1570L-1575L

1750

3

10

112/I

9000:31B

Americae

1579L-1584L

2025

1

11

114

9000:31C

Americae

1587F-1612S

4350

2

11(1)

 

 

Americae

none

none

1

12

124

0600:31

Maris Pacifici

1590LIV-1612S

4050

2

13

72

9510:31

Hispaniae Nova

1579LII-1612S

6675

2

14

73

9520+9610:31

Culican.-Hisp-Cub

1579LII-1612S

6675

5/3

15

103

9820+9440+9540:31

Peruv.-Flor-Guast.

1584LIII-1612S

5425

2/2/2

16

6

5000:31A

Angliae,Scot,Hib.

1570L-1612L

8175

3

17

148

5000:31B

Angliae & Hibern.

1606E-1612S

1250

2

18

54

5800:31

Scotiae

1573GI-1612S

7300

3

19

55

5100:31A

Angliae

1573GI-1602L

5950

3

20

143

5100:31B

Anglia Regnum

1603L

 425

1

21

56

5500:31

Cambriae Typus

1573GI-1612S

7200

3

22

57

5900:31A

Hiberniae

1573GI-1603L

6375

3

23

149

5900:31B

Irlandiae

1606E-1612S

1325

3

24

95

6350:31

Açores

1584LIII-1612S

5425

3

25

7

6000:31

Regni Hispaniae

1570L-1612S

8175

4

26

8

6300:31

Portugalliae

1570L-1612L

8175

5

28

74

6112:31

Hispalens. Conv.

1579LII-1612S

6675

3

29

 

6155:31A

Valentiae

some 1592L

1400

2

30

107

6155:31B

Valentiae

1584LIII-1612S

4325

1

31

99

6058+6020+6115:31

Carpetaniae-Guip.

1584LIII-1612S

5425

1/1/1

32

145

6045:31

Reyno de Galizia

1598D-1612S

1300

1

33

144

6250:31

Cataloniae Princ.

1603L-1612S

 950

3

34

9

4000:31A

Galliae

1570L-1603L

5925

3

35

135/III

4000:31B

Gallia

never regularly included,

very few

1

36

150

4000:31C

Gallia

1606E-1612S

1225

2

37

127

4430+4001:31

Cenom.-Neus.

1595LV-1612S

3425

1/2

38

75

4500:31

Pictonum

1579LII-1612S

6675

3

39

10

4360+4587:31

Biturigum-Limaniae

1570L-1612S

8175

1/1

40

76

4440:31

Anjou

1579LII-1612S

6575

3

41

136

4300:31

Isle de France

1598F-1612S

2575

2

42

137

4380:31

Touraine

1598F-1612S

2425

1

43

138

4370+4560:31A

Blaisois-Lemovicum

1598F-1612S

2750

1/1

44

11

4120+4160:31A

Caletensium-Verom.

1570L-1598D

5350

3/2

45

139

4120+4160:31B

Caletensium-Verom.

1598F-1612S

2825

2/1

46

77

4100:31

Picardiae

1579LII-1612S

6725

5

47

128

4700:31

Provinciae

1595LV-1612S

3425

2

48

12

4652+4760:31A

Galliae Narb.-Sab.

1570L-1581F

2950

1/1

49

108

4652+4760+4740

Gall.Narb-Sab-Ven.

1584LIII-1612S

5150

2/2

50

122

4250:31

Lotharingiae

1590LIV-1612S

4050

2

51

78

4880:31A

Burgundiae

1579LII-1612L

5475

2

52

116

4880:31B

Burgundia Comitat.

1589G & 1603L

 650

1

53

142

4870+4880:31B

Burgundiae D.-Com.

1602S-1612S

 350

2/2

54

96

4870:31A

Burgundiae Infer.

1584LIII-1612S

5050

1

55

152

4985:31

Lacus Lemani

1608I-1612S

 925

1

56

13

2000:31A

Germaniae

1570L-1602G

6650

2

57

147

2000:31B

Deutschlanndt

1603L-1612S

1775

3

58

14

3000:31A

Germaniae Infer.

1570L-1606E

7250

2

59

153

3000:31B

Inferioris German.

1608I-1612S

 925

4

60

79

3380:31

Lutzemburgensis

1579LII-1612S

6725

5

61

15

3700:31A

Gelriae, Cliviae

1570L-1612S

7525

4

62

 

3700:31B

Gelriae Cliviae

1579L-1592L

 650

1

63

100

3360:31

Leodiensis

1584LIII-1612S

5425

4

65

16

3100:31A

Brabantiae

1570L-1592L

4825

4

66

126

3100:31B

Brabantiae

1592L-1612S

3875

3

67

151

3170:31

Limburgensis Duc.

1606E-1612S

1225

1

68

80

3340:31

Namurcum

1579LII-1612S

6725

3

69

53/I

3320:31A

Hannoniae

not regularly included

1300

2

70

81

3320:31B

Hannoniae

1579LII-1581F

3900

3

71

111

3320:31C

Hannoniae

1584L-1612S

2000

2

72

82

3300:31A

Artois

1579LII-1584F; 1595L-1612S

5650

4

73

115

3300:31B

Artesia

1587F-1592L

1075

1

75

17

3200:31A

Flandriae

1570L-1575L

1750

2

76

93/II

3200:31B

Flandria

1579L-1589G

2675

3

77

125

3200:31C

Flandria

1592L-1612S

3750

4

78

18

3600:31

Zelandicarum

1570L-1612S

8175

11

79

19

3400:31

Hollandiae Catth.

1570L-1612S

8175

4

80

20

3900:31

Oost & West Friesl.

1570L-1612S

8175

6

81

83

3910:31

Frisia Occident.

1579LII-1612S

6725

4

82

84

2310:31A

Frisiae Orientalis

1579LII-1592L

3250

1

83

135/I

2310:31B

Frisiae Orientalis

1595L-1612S

3175

2

84

21

1500:31A

Daniae Regnum

1570L-1581F

3000

1

85

101a/b

1500+2320:31B

Daniae-Oldenburg

1584LIII-1612S

2600

1/1

86

130a/b

1500+1550:31C

Daniae-Cimbriae

1595LV-1612S

3000

1/2

87

 

1660+2192:31B

Holsat.-Rugiae

1598F-1612S

3625

1/2

88

22

1680+1720:31A

Thietmarsiae-Prus.

1570L-1581F

3000

1/1

89

22A/109B

1680+2192:31B

Thietm.-Rugiae

1584LIII-1612S

4425

2/2

90

22A/101B

1680+2320:31C

Thietm.-Oldenburg

1598F-1612S

2675

2/1

91

85

2300:31

Westphaliae

1579LII-1612S

6725

3

92

86

2450+1660:31A

Hassiae-Holsatiae

1579LII-1592L

4150

2/3

93

23

2100:31

Saxoniae-Misn-Th.

1570L-1612S

8175

2

94

58

2150:31

Mansfeldiae

1573GI-1612S

7200

3

95

129a/b

2570+2450:31

Henneberg.-Hass.

1595LV-1612S

2900

1/1

96

59a/b

2120+2110:31

Turingiae-Misniae

1573GI-1612S

7300

3/4

97

118

2170:31

Brandenburgensis

1590LIV-1612S

4050

1

98

87a/b

2466+2460:31

Bughaviae-Waldecc.

1579LII-1612S

6625

2/3

99

123a/b

2262+2580:31

Braunswicensis-Nor

1590LIV-1612S

4050

2/3

100

24a/b

2550+2580:31

Franconiae-Osn.

1570L-1612S

8075

2/3

101

25

2850:31

Regni Bohemiae

1570L-1612S

8175

2

102

26

2900:31A

Silesiae

1570L-1592L

4825

3

103

135/II

2900:31B

Silesiae

1595L-1612S

3350

2

104

60

2870:31

Moraviae

1573GI-1612S

7300

2

105

27

2710:31A

Austriae

1570L-1592L

4675

3

106

140

2710:31B

Austriae

1595L-1612S

3500

1

107

28

2720:31A

Salisburgensis

1570L-1595L

4825

1

108

135/V

2720:31B

Salisburgensis

1595L-1612S

3250

2

109

29

2660:31A

Typus Vindelicae

1570L-1573G

1400

1

110

70

2660:31B

Bavariae

1573LI-1612S

7025

3

111

30a/b

2670+2620:31A

Bavariae-Wirtemb.

1570L-1581F

2875

1/1

112

94a/b

2670+2525:31B

Bavariae-Argent.

1584LIII-1612S

4475

2/2

113

88

2620:31B

Wirtenberg Ducatus

1579LII-1612S

6225

3

114

61a/b

4915+2650:31

Basiliensis-Suev.

1573GI-1612S

7275

3/3

115

31

4900:31

Helvetiae

1570L-1612S

8175

2

116

62a/b

2780+7170:31

Rhetiae-Goritiae

1573GI-1612S

6675

3/2

117

32

7000:31A

Italiae

1570L-1581F

2935

2

118

112

7000:31B

Italiae

1584L-1612S

5240

1

119

63

7171:31B

Fori Iulii

1573GI-1612S

6900

2

120

89

7111:31

Veronae Urbis

1579LII-1612S

6225

1

121

64a/b

7120+7450:31A

Patavini-Apuliae

1573GI-1592L

4075

1/1

122

131a/b

7120+7160:31B

Patavini-Tarvisini

1595LV-1612S

2900

1/1

123

119

7140:31

Bresciano

1590LIV-1612S

3950

2

124

154a/b

7380+7113:31

Bononiense-Vicent.

1608I-1612S

 925

1/1

125

33

7020:31

Ducatus Mediolan.

1570L-1612S

8175

5

126

155

7080:31

Reipubli. Genuens.

1608I-1612S

 925

1

127

90

7030:31

Agri Cremonensis

1579LII-1612S

6575

1

128

34

7050:31

Pedemontanae

1570L-1612S

8175

1

129

35a/b/c

7026+7310+7171:31

Como-Romae-Friuli

1570L-1612S

8175

3/2/2

130

36

7200:31A

Thusciae

1570L-1612S

8175

3

131

132

7205:31

Florentini

1595LV-1612S

3425

1

132

156

7250:31

Parmae et Placent.

1608I-1612S

 925

4

133

157

7390:31

Ducatus Ferrarien.

1608I-1612S

 925

1

134

158

7370:31

Romagna Flaminia

1608I-1612S

 925

1

135

159

7360:31

Ducatus Urbini

1608I-1612S

 925

1

136

102

7340:31

Perusini Agri

1584LIII-1612S

5475

1

137a/b/c

65a/b/c

7210+7520+7550:31

Senensis-Cors.-Anc

1573GI-1612S

7300

2/2/3

138

117

7430:31

Aprutti

1590LIV-1612S

3950

1

139

37

7400:31

Regni Neapolitani

1570L-1612S

8175

2

140a/b

133a/b

7450+7490:31B

Apuliae-Calabriae

1595LV-1612S

2900

1/1

141a-f

38a-f

7500:31

Insularum Aliquot

1570L-1612S

8175

1/2/1/1/1/1

142

120

7550:31

Ischia

1590LIV-1612S

4050

2

143a/b/c

67a-c

2725+7180+7645:31

Carinthiae-Hist-Z.

1573GI-1612S

7200

2/2/2

144

71

7640:31

Illyricum

1573LI-1612S

7025

3

145

41

7601:31

Sclavon-Croat-Car.

1570L-1612S

8175

3

146

40

7800:31

Graeciae

1570L-1612S

8175

4

147a-k

98a-k

7900+7010:31B

Candia-Archipelagi

1584LIII-1612S

5425

2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2/2

148a/b

39a/b

8130+7900:31A

Cyprus-Candia

1570L-1581F

2825

2/1

149

66

8130:31B

Cypri Insulae

1573GI-1612S

7300

4

150

42

1800:31A

Hungariae

1570L-1612S

8175

5

151

91

1800:31B

Ungariae Loca

1579LII-1612S

6575

3

152

43

7700:31A

Transylvaniae

1570L-1575L

1730

2

153

93/III

7700:31B

Transilvania

1575L-1612S

6445

4

154

44

1900:31A

Poloniae

1570L-1595L

4925

4

155

135/IV

1900:31B

Poloniae Lithuan.

1595L-1612S

3250

2

156

104

1720:31B

Prussiae

1584LIII-1595L

2175

1

157

141

1720:31C

Prussiae

1598F-1612S

2950

2

158a-c

68a-c

2190+1710+1940:31

Pomeran.-Liv-Osw.

1573GI-1612S

7300

2/3/1

159

105

7602:31

Romaniae

1584LIII-1612S

5325

1

160

45

1200:31

Septentrionalium

1570L-1612S

8175

7

161

121

1250:31

Islandia

1590LIV-1612S

4150

1

162

46

1800:31

Russiae

1570L-1612S

8175

5

163

47

1/67

Tartariae

1570L-1612S

8175

4

164

97

8050:31

Chinae

1584LIII-1612S

5425

3

165

134

8450:31

Iaponiae

1595LV-1612S

3525

2

166

48

8400:31

Indiae Orientalis

1570L-1612S

8175

5

167

49

8200:31

Persici

1570L-1612S

8175

3

168

50

8100:31A

Turcici Imperii

1570L-1575L

1850

1

169

92

8100:31B

Turcici Imperii

1579L-1612S

6325

2

170

51

8150:31A

Palestinae

1570L-1575L

1750

3

171

93

8150:31B

Palestinae

1579L-1592L

2775

1

172

 

8150:31B

Palestinae

1595L-1612S

3775

1

173

106

8150:31C

Terra Sancta

1584LIII-1612S

5425

2

174

52abc

8110+8650+8630:31

Natoliae-Aegyp-Cr.

1570L-1612S

8175

2/2/2

175

69

8730:31

Presbiteri Iohann.

1573GI-1612S

7300

2

176

53

8610:31

Barbariae et Bil.

1570L-1612S

8175

2

177.

135

8615:31

Fessae et Marocchi

1595LV-1612S

3525

2

Parergon maps

vdB
number

Koeman/Meurer
number

VdKrogt
AN number

Name,
abbreviated

period
of usage

copies
printed

number
of states

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

178(1)

 

31:2A

Parergon title page

1579L(AB) only

 500

1

178(2)

 

31:2B

Parergon title page

1584L only

 750

1

178(3)

 

31:2C

Parergon title page

1592L-1601L

1325

1

178(4)

 

31:2D

Parergon title page

1603L-1641S

2525

3

179

36P

0810:31

Geographia Sacra

1603L-1624P

2625

1

180

22P

8155H:31

Typus Chorograph.

1590LIV-1624P

4175

2

181

1P

0850H:31

Divi Pauli

1579LII-1624P

7125

3

182

12P

8020H:31A

Abrahami Patriar.

1590LIV-1595L

 850

2

183

39P/IV

8020H:31B

Abrahami Patriar.

1592L-1624P

3425

2

184

42P

0301H:32

Lumen Orientalis

1624P

1025

1

185

43P

0302H:32

Lumen Occidentalis

1624P

1025

1

186

13P

0800H:31

Aevi Veteris Typus

1590LIV-1624P

4275

2

187

2P

1050H:31

Romani Imperii

1579LII-1624P

7325

3

189

26P

1000H:31

Europam Celtic.

1595LV-1624P

3750

1

190

15P

5000H:1:31A

Brittanicae Ins(N)

1590LIV-1592L

 700

1

191

16P

5000H:2:31A

Brittanicae Ins(S)

1590LIV-1592L

 700

1

192

34P

5000H:31B

Brittanicarum Ins.

1595L-1624P

3675

1

193

20P

6000H:31

Hispaniae Vet. D.

1590LIV-1624P

3550

2

194

18P

4000H:31A

Gallia Vetus

1590LIV-1624P

3975

3

196

27P

4000H:31C

Galliae Veteris T.

1595LV-1624P

3850

2

197

6P

3000H:31A

Belgii Veteris T.

1584LIII-1592L

1675

2

198

33P/I

3000H:31B

Belgii Veteris T.

1595L-1624P

3575

1

199

19P

2000H:31A

Germaniae Vet. T.

1590LIV-1592L

 700

1

200

 

2000H:31B

Germaniae Vet. T.

1595L-1624P

3735

3

201

40P

P-HRE/1:32

Ordines Sacri I

1603L-1624P

2525

1

202

41P

P-HRE/2:32

Ordines Sacri II

1603L-1624P

2525

2

203

23P

7600H:31

Pannoniae et Ill.

1590LIV-1624P

4175

1

204

9P

7000H:31A

Italiae Veteris S.

1584LIII-1592L

1850

2

205

 

7000H:31B

Italiae Veteris S.

1595L-1624P

3500

1

206

21P

7010H:31

Italia Gallica C.

1590LIV-1624P

3550

2

207

11P

7200H:31A

Tusciae Antiquae

1584LIII-1592L

1775

3

208

 

7200H:31B

Tusciae Antiquae

1595L-1624P

3475

2

209

28P

7320H:31

Latium

1595LV-1624P

3650

3

210

29P

7400H:31

Graecia Major

1595LV-1624P

3650

2

211

10P

7510H:31

Siciliae Veteris

1584LIII-1624P

5450

6

212

30P

7710H:31

Daciarum Moesiar.

1595LV-1624P

3850

2

213

17P

0350H:31

Pontus Euxinus

1590LIV-1624P

4375

3

214

25P

7760H:31

Thraciae Vet. T.

1590LIV-1624P

4375

2

215

3P

7800H:31

Hellas, Graeciae

1579LII-1624P

7275

2

216

8Pa-j

7500+8130:31

Insular.-Cyprus

1584LIII-1624P

5450

2/1/4/2/1/3/2/3/2/1

217

7Pa-d

7900H:31

Creta-Ins. aliquot

1584LIII-1624P

5450

1/2/3/4

218

14P

8610H:31

Africae Propriae T.

1590LIV-1624P

4375

2

219

4P

8650H:1:31A

Aegyptus (North)

1584LIII-1592L

1775

2

220

5P

8650H:2:31A

Aegyptus (South)

1584LIII-1592L

1775

1

221

35P

8650H:31B

Aegyptus Antiqua

1595L-1624P

3475

1

222

31P

8030H:31

Alexandri Magni

1595LV-1624P

3650

3

223

32P

0311H:31

Aeneae Troiani N.

1595LV-1624P

3650

3

224

37P

0500H:31A

Erythraei Rubri M.

1598F-1624P

2725

2

226

38P

0310H:31

Argonautica

1598F-1624P

2725

1

227

44P

0910:1:31

Peutinger.(I,II)

1624P

1225

1

228

45P

0910:2:31

Peutinger.(III,IV)

1624P

1225

1

229

46P

0910:3:31

Peutinger.(V, VI)

1624P

1225

1

230

47P

0910:4:31

Peuting.(VII,VIII)

1624P

1225

1

231

24P

P-Tempe:31

Tempe

1590LIV-1624P

4075

2

232

33P

P-Daphne:31

Daphne

1595LV-1624P

3250

2

233

39P

P-Escorial:31

Scenograph. Escor.

1601L-1624P

2525

3

234

 

9999:31

Utopia

not yet found in an atlas

Few

1

Total of all maps (229 plates):  above one million sheets printed.

Some comments on the above plate list of Ortelius Atlas Maps

This survey lists the plates used in the course of the printing history of Ortelius' "Theatrum", including the editions which were issued after his death.

The oldest list of plates, rather incomplete, and ordered more or less chronologically, is given by Hessels (1887) in his work which has the correspondence by and with Ortelius as its main subject. Hessels ends his listing at Ortelius' death.

In 1914, Eduard Brandmayer published his "Bibliographische Untersuchungen ueber Entstehung des Ortelianischen Kartenwerkes". He lists more plates than Hessels does, and also ends his listing in 1598 at Ortelius' death.

The next list, which misses fewer plates than Hessels and Brandmeyer, is that by Bagrow (1928-1930). Like the first, the ordering principle again aims at being chronological, and likewise the list ends with Ortelius' decease in 1598.

The first serious attempt aiming at a complete inventory of plates used for Ortelius' atlas was made by Koeman in his Atlantes Neerlandici (Koeman 1967). The 53 maps occurring in the first edition of the Theatrum were numbered 1 to 53, and every new plate appearing after that, during Ortelius' life usually first appearing in the Additamenta, received a subsequent number. Thus, the numbering was essentially again of a chronological nature. Koeman found 159 (in fact 158, see above) regular plates and 44 Parergon plates (in fact 47, since he counts the 4 Peutinger plates as one number), bringing the total to 205.
This list provided a good starting point, but was faulty in a number of respects. Sometimes, the reworking of a plate was indicated, but as a rule it was not. One plate was entered twice, and a considerable number of plates was still lacking altogether.

Peter Meurer in his "Fontes Cartographici Orteliani" (Meurer 1991), a work primarily aimed at establishing cartographic sources for each Ortelius map, made a new attempt at providing a complete listing of plates. In order to remain compatible with Koeman's list, he inserted newly found plates chronologically into Koeman's list by adding Roman numerals. He reports 10 new regular plates and 4 new Parergon plates, bringing the total to 168 regular atlas plates and 51 Parergon plates. Since one regular plate moves to the Parergon, this brings the total number of plates to 219.

Karrow's study on Ortelius' sources (Karrow 1993) curiously misses quite a few plates reported two years before by Meurer, and like its predecessor and source of inspiration Bagrow, stops in 1598. Again, this work aims primarily at establishing cartographical sources of Ortelius maps, and complements (and sometimes contradicts) the work by Meurer.

My own research, partly based on that by Meurer yielded another 15 hitherto unnoticed "new" regular plates. This brings the total count at 234 plates, which are reported in Van den Broecke (1996). Since that time, one "new"plate has been found. In 2004 I found a copperplate which turned out to be a very close copy of Ort 11, the Americas. Most probably it was never used. Two modern prints were made in an art shop, one for the owner, one for me, which can be seen with some information around it at http://www.orteliusmaps.com/americas-paris

Since the chronology attached to the Koeman/Meurer numbering of the plates could no longer be upheld in the face of new evidence, and since the chronological numbering system results in a list where similar maps are widely apart geographically, preventing easy comparison of similar plates, it was decided to introduce a new system of numbering, which is not chronological, but by area. The order of presentation of areas as presented in the first edition of the Theatrum forms the starting point, and all later maps have been inserted within this order according to area, which results in a list as given above.

In 2003 volume III of the monumental New Atlantes was published by Peter van der Krogt. In the list above, and in the discussion of the individual plates, his numbering for the Ortelius plates is given as well.

Why is it that so many "new" plates, i.e. plates differing from those described by the earlier researchers mentioned above went unnoticed? For one thing because they were only very rarely included in the Theatrum. Examples of such rare maps are Ort 69 Hannonia, which was suppressed for political reasons (see Meurer 1994), Ort 29 Valentiae, which was of inferior engraving quality, Ort 35 Gallia of which less than a handful copies are known, and Ort 234 Utopia, of which only one copy is known, and which has not (yet) been found in an atlas.
Another reason why "new" plates went unnoticed is because they closely resembled their predecessors. Usually, researchers compare plates by putting two atlases next to each other and compare by looking in turn at one map or the other of two resembling maps. This procedure makes it very hard to detect small differences, such as occur between plates Ort 6 and Ort 7 of Asia, plates Ort 9 and Ort 10 of the Americas, plates Ort 75 and Ort 76 of Flanders, plates Ort 170, Ort 171 and Ort 172 of Palestine, plates Ort 204 and Ort 205 of Italiae Veteris Typus, and plates Ort 207 and Ort 208 Tusciae Antiquae. By superimposing loose maps on top of one another, or better still, by making a photocopy on acetate of one map, and moving this around on top of another, small differences can be detected which escape notice when compared in a more global manner.
It cannot be excluded that more of such close pairs as given above will be found, but on the basis of numerous comparisons conducted in the manner just described on many loose Ortelius maps, I do not expect there to be more than very few indeed.

Period of usage is determined by inspecting the occurrence of each plate in each edition of the Theatrum and Additamenta.

Impression rates are based on the editions for which we know how much paper was used and on sales figures by Plantin of not only these editions, but also of editions for which no paper usage is known, as discussed in Van den Broecke (1986). See also Imhof's contribution "Ortelius and the First Atlas" (1998).

For the number of states listed below, the situation is different. There are many new states to report since my book "Ortelius Atlas Maps" appeared in 1996, and I do not expect the present list to be exhaustive. Some plates with a long history of inclusion in the Theatrum had to be recut numerous times because the resulting prints would become too faded in their thin lines (see the sea area in plate Ort 175, Presbiteri Ioannis, to get an impression what happens when a worn plate is not recut). It is highly unlikely that plates would just be recut without any alteration whatever. As noted, I found many new states since 1996, and many were pointed out to me by others. I expect many more states to be found, I encourage researchers and collectors to look for them, and would be happy to hear about their results.


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