Abraham Ortelius, Angliae Regni Florentissimi Nova Descriptio…, 1579

Ortelius’ Fine Early Regional Map of the British Isles

This important map of England and Wales was first published by Ortelius in his 1573 supplement or Additamentum to his atlas, the influential Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. He included 4 new maps of Scotland, England, Wales, and Ireland in that atlas. The map of England offered here did not appear in the atlas until 1573, although Shirley cites that Ortelius had received the information in manuscript form from the Welsh historian Humphrey Lhuyd prior to the Welshman’s death in 1568. The piece was included in subsequent editions of Ortelius’ atlas until 1602, and reappeared finally in the historical section of the 1606 English edition of the atlas.

The general model improves the earlier Mercator-Ortelius outline of England and Wales, especially Cardigan and South Wales, the Devon peninsula, and the Welsh and Humber inlets. Several errors remain, however: the south coast is exaggerated in length, and a westward inclination of the Island’s north-south axis. The Caernarvon peninsula near Lhuyd’s hometown of Denbigh is badly distorted, and Shirley notes that it has been suggested that this may be attributed to Lhuyd’s attempts to sketch this area by eye from one of the nearby mountains. The selection and spelling of names indicate sources specific to Lhuyd, although the engraver doubtless consulted the Mercator-Ortelius model as well. No counties are marked, and no cities except London are differentiated in importance.

Overall, this is a wonderful copy of this important and beautiful early map of England and Wales.

Ref.:  Shirley, Early Printed Maps of the British Isles, no. 98 (for first edition) and 185 (this edition), Plate 25; Koeman 55, Ort 29; van den Broeke 19; North, F. J. Humphrey Lhuyd’s Maps of England and of Wales, (Cardiff, Wales: 1937).