Coloured map of North Atlantic from the 1601 Latin edition of Abraham Ortelius’ landmark atlas “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum”, the first modern atlas of the world. This map, which was included in the Ortelius atlas since its inception in 1570, is based on the work of several mapmakers including Mercator Zeno and Olaus Magnus. Covering the area from Russia in the east to North America in the west, the map shows a fairly accurate view of Scandinavia, Northern Europe and the British Isles, a largely imaginary depiction of the polar region, Greenland and Iceland (shown as Thule) and several mythical islands such as Friesland and St.Brendan. A description of the region appears on the verso in Latin. Other than a repaired rust mark and a few pinholes in the centrefold, the map is a finely coloured, dark impression in very good condition. 36 cm x 49 cm