The First Edition of Ortelius’s map of the Spice Islands

An early map of the East Indies, detailing India, China and Japan, Indochina and Indonesia, published in the rare 'B' variant of the First Edition of the 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum', regarded as the first modern atlas. The Spice Islands are shown out of proportion, highlighting their importance. Top right, near an unrecognisable depiction of Japan, is the west coast of America; bottom right is a huge 'New Guinea; and bottom centre is the enigmatic 'Beach, pars continentis Australis'. The map has a decorative strapwork title, a banner containing a description of the Moluccas, and vignettes of mermaids and sea monsters attacking a galleon. A very fine example in full contemporary colouring.