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an old map of the island of guernsey and the island of guernsey in the middle of the 18th centuryan old map of the country of canada in a white framean old map of the island of candela and the island of cretaan old map of the island of guernsey in the middle of the 19th centuryan old photo of a piece of paper with a white background
KÂ- MONDO / KAPANDJI MORHANGE

78 - [CYPRUS – CRETE]. ORTELIUS, Abraham.
See original version (French)

Estimate €300 - €400
Sale commission
Description
[CYPRUS – CRETE]. ORTELIUS, Abraham. Cyprus Insula. Candia, formerly Crete. A 16th-century map of the islands of Cyprus and Crete, from Abraham Ortelius’s famous *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum*. Place unknown [Antwerp], publisher unknown, date unknown [c. 1570–1590]. Two maps engraved in black on copper (36.5 x 44 cm in total) on laid paper (44.5 x 57.5 cm), mounted on white Marie-Louise paper (50 x 65 cm) with a transparent film in the centre. A tear on an inner corner of the Marie-Louise mount; a few water stains on the margins of the laid paper, including a slight one above the northern coast of Crete; the central fold is slightly discoloured. This rare map is taken from Abraham Ortelius’s (1527–1598) *Theatrum Orbis Terrarum*, the first modern atlas containing 53 engraved maps (in the original 1570 edition) and generally regarded as the most expensive book of the 16th century. It depicts the two main islands of the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus and Crete. In addition to the ships sailing around them, Crete even features a representation of the Labyrinth of Daedalus, which, according to ancient mythology, was home to the famous Minotaur. Our copy is simply slipped beneath a Marie-Louise mount and held in place by two strips of specially removable adhesive tape. Although from the 16th century, it probably originates from the 1586 edition. Part of the descriptive text (in Latin) for the island of Crete appears on the reverse. A beautiful, prestigious map in good condition.
See original version (French)
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About the sale Sale of collectable books and first editions – Varia III –
Auction location
Auction time 09/14/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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