The Ortelius family was among the earliest publishers of maps that detailed in text and geography the emerging new world. Abraham Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the World) is considered the first modern atlas, moving away from the simple projections of Ptolemy and incorporating the newer work of Mercator. It was originally published in Antwerp in 1570 and continued to circulate with corrections and translations until 1641. The atlas achieved immediate popular and commercial success, being the fist to present maps in a uniform size and format. Engraved by Franz Hogenberg, the maps were detailed and elaborate with cartouches depicting ships, sea monsters, sphinxes, and flowers. They remain among the most important and beautiful examples of early Dutch cartography.
