Pacific--Ortelius, Abraham.

Burden, Mapping of North America 74; Suarez, "Early Mapping of the Pacific Ocean", The Map Collector 22 (1983), pp. 2-9; Wagner, Cartography of the Northwest Coast of America p.289, no.156 & pp. 72-76

The condition of this item is as described in the catalogue
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The first printed map of the Pacific Ocean.

One of the most important individual maps to appear in Ortelius' Theatrum is this fine map of the Pacific, with a detailed delineation of the western seaboard of the Americas, which is one of the earliest obtainable maps to refer to "Americae Septentrionalior" and "Americae Meridionalior" (North America and South America), and an important landmark in the mapping of California (correctly shown as a peninsula).

The western extent of the map seems to derive from Spanish or Portuguese manuscript materials, particularly those of Fernan Vaz Dourado for Japan. Ortelius' maps reflect his uncertainty about the nature of New Guinea but here it is, unequivocally, depicted as an island, rather than as a peninsula of the "Terra Australis" that stretches across the foot of the map.

While the edges of the map are accurately portrayed, Ortelius has greatly expanded the width of the Pacific Ocean.

The southern Pacific is dominated by Ferdinand Magellan's ship the "Victoria", the only one of his three ships to return to Spain. Although frequently described as the first circumnavigator of the globe, Magellan himself was killed in the Philippines, and never completed the voyage. The quatrain under the "Victoria" translates as:

It was I who first traversed the orbit of the world, sails flying.
You, Magellan, I led to your new-found strait.
Rightly am I called Victoria; to me
Belong the sails and the wings; the prize, the glory; the struggle and the sea

As one of the maps appearing in only late editions of the atlas, this map is appreciably rarer than the map of the Americas, for example, which it updates and improves upon.