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 |
| 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.
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.