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1579 Map of the Western Hemisphere – America – Historical Map
1579 Map of the Western Hemisphere – America – Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ortelius’ Influential Map of the New World – Second Plate in Contemporary Colour “Americae sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio”, Ortelius, Abraham This is one of the most famous maps of the Americas, which had an enormous influence on future cartography of the New World. The map is largely based on Gerard Mercator’s large multi-sheet world map of 1569. The most recognisable features of the map are the extensive Chilean coastline and the exaggerated width of the North American continent. In North America, the long St Lawrence River crosses the continent until it almost meets the fictional Tiguas River, which flows to the west. The strategically placed title cartouche hides the unknown South Pacific and thus most of the supposed great southern continent, which is shown connected to New Guinea and Tierra del Fuego. This map is from the second copper plate, which contains the same geography as the first plate [1570]. On this plate, the largest ship in the Pacific is now sailing eastwards, away from the viewer. Religious persecution forced Ortelius to leave Antwerp and there was a four-year hiatus in the publication of the Theatrum. When he re-established himself in Liège, he used Christopher Plantin’s large printing press to resume publication with a series of revised plates. This plate had a relatively short life of only 8 years, being replaced in 1587 by the plate which is easily distinguishable from the revised South American form. References: Burden #52; Goss (NA) #11; Van den Broecke #10. 1579 Map of the Western Hemisphere
1579 Map of the Western Hemisphere – America – Theatrum Orbis Terrarum
Ortelius’ Influential Map of the New World – Second Plate in Contemporary Colour
“Americae sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio”, Ortelius, Abraham
This is one of the most famous maps of America, which had an enormous influence on the future cartography of the New World.
The map is largely based on Gerard Mercator’s large multi-sheet world map of 1569.
The most recognisable features of the map are the extensive Chilean coastline and the exaggerated width of the North American continent.
In North America, the long St Lawrence River crosses the continent until it almost meets the fictional Tiguas River, which flows westwards.
The strategically placed title cartouche hides the unknown South Pacific and thus most of the supposed great southern continent, which is shown connected to New Guinea and Tierra del Fuego.
This map is from the second copper plate, which contains the same geography as the first plate [1570].
On this plate, the largest ship in the Pacific is now sailing eastwards, away from the viewer. Religious persecution forced Ortelius to leave Antwerp and there was a four-year hiatus in the publication of the Theatrum.
When he re-established himself in Liège, he used Christopher Plantin’s large printing press to resume publication with a series of revised plates. This plate had a relatively short life of only 8 years, being replaced in 1587 by the plate which is easily distinguishable from the revised South American form.
References: Burden #52; Goss (NA) #11; Van den Broecke #10.
Map of the Western Hemisphere, 1579
Written by Willy Sievert
Editor of Bahia.ws since its founding in 2009. Based in Salvador, he travels frequently across the Northeast and all of Brazil to keep the guides up to date. Learn more about Willy Sievert →
![Mapa do Hemisfério Ocidental de 1579 - América - Theatrum Orbis TerrarumOrtelius' Influential Map of the New World - Second Plate in Contemporary Color "Americae sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio", Ortelius, Abraham Este é um dos mais famosos mapas da América, que teve uma enorme influência na futura cartografia do Novo Mundo. O mapa baseia-se principalmente no grande mapa-múndi de várias folhas de Gerard Mercator de 1569. As características mais reconhecíveis do mapa são a volumosa costa chilena e a largura exagerada do continente norte-americano. A América do Norte mostra um longo rio São Lourenço que atravessa o continente até quase se encontrar com o fictício rio Tiguas, que flui para oeste. A cartela de título estrategicamente colocada esconde o desconhecido Pacífico Sul e, portanto, a maior parte do conjetural grande continente do sul, que é mostrado ligado à Nova Guiné e à Terra do Fogo. Este mapa é da segunda placa de cobre que contém geografia idêntica à da primeira placa [1570]. Nesta placa, o maior navio do Pacífico está agora a navegar para leste, afastando-se do observador. Devido à perseguição religiosa, Ortelius foi forçado a abandonar Antuérpia e, como resultado, houve um lapso de quatro anos na publicação do Theatrum. Quando se restabeleceu em Liège, utilizou a grande tipografia de Christopher Plantin para retomar a publicação com uma série de placas revistas. Esta placa teve uma vida relativamente curta, de apenas 8 anos, sendo substituída em 1587 pela placa que se distingue facilmente da forma revista da América do Sul. Referências: Burden #52; Goss (NA) #11; Van den Broecke #10. Mapa do Hemisfério Ocidental de 1579](https://bahia.ws/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Western-Hemisphere-America-1579-scaled.jpg)
