ORTELIUS (Abraham). Theatrum orbis terrarum. [Antwerp, Christophe Plantin, 1579]. In-folio, fawn calf, triple gilt fillet, ornate spine, red morocco title-piece, untrimmed (Late 19th century binding). First Plantinian edition of the first modern atlas, in which Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) compiled maps of all the known regions of the world, brought together for the first time in the same format in a single book. The atlas, which contained 53 maps in its first edition in 1570, was regularly expanded, reaching 119 maps by the time of Ortelius's death, and 167 maps in the last edition, published in 1612. Superb illustration comprising an architectural title-frontispiece and 80 (of 93) double-page maps mounted on mitre, engraved on copper from drawings by Ortelius by Frans Hogenberg assisted by Ambrosius and Ferdinand Aertsen. This edition of the Theatrum orbis terrarum published by Christophe Plantin is the first to include the ancient maps of Parergon (nos. 91-93) and the index entitled Nomenclator Ptolemaicus. The maps of the Ottoman Empire (no. 86) and Palestine (no. 87) have been renewed and others considerably revised, in particular the map of Asia (no. 3). The Catalogus auctorum contains 120 names, typical of the first issue. Copy incomplete of 13 maps (nos. 1, 2, 16, 25, 28, 33, 38, 41, 45, 46, 61, 91, 93), of the last introductory leaf decorated with a portrait of Ortelius (B4) and of the Nomenclator Ptolemaicus, an unillustrated appendix of 43 ff. (sign. A-F6 G8), the last of which contains the colophon. Title-frontispiece soiled and partially lined, repairs with slight loss to last six maps, partially lined (nos. 86-90, 92), minor marginal repairs to a few leaves and maps; hinges and spine slightly rubbed. Koeman, Ort 15A - Voet, n°1817 - Adams, O-336.