[ORTELIUS, Abraham (1527-1598)]. Africae tabula nova. Antwerp: [C. Plantin], 1570 [but 1581]. Double-page, hand-coloured engraved map by Frans Hogenberg, French text on verso (some marginal nicks and repairs), 395 x 529mm.

[ORTELIUS, Abraham (1527-1598)]. Africae tabula nova. Antwerp: [C. Plantin], 1570 [but 1581]. Double-page, hand-coloured engraved map by Frans Hogenberg, French text on verso (some marginal nicks and repairs), 395 x 529mm.

Second state (of six) of this 'beautiful map', all examples of which were produced from the same copperplate. First published in the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum in 1570, it replaced Sebastian Munster's widely circulated map of 1540, and closely followed Gastaldi's wall map of 1564, remaining the standard map of Africa well into the 17th century. Two important changes to the shape of the continent were introduced: the Cape of Good Hope became more pointed, and the eastward extension of the continent was significantly reduced. Betz 12; Norwich 10; Tooley p. 88: 'one of the cornerstones of any African map collection'.