MAP OF TUSCANY: "THUSCIAE DESCRIPTIO," ABRAHAM ORTELIUS, 1570–1608 Undated hand-colored map of Tuscany, Italy, titled "Thusciae Descriptio Auctore Hieronymo Bellarmato." It comes from Abraham Ortelius's "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum," widely regarded as the first modern atlas, and is based on an earlier map made by Girolamo Bellarmati, a Sienese scholar who first published his map of Tuscany in 1536. The map shows Florence at its center, with the coastline, rivers, and towns of Tuscany marked in fine detail, and is decorated with small sailing ships and an ornate title cartouche in the upper right corner. Framed. Not examined out of frame. 14 x 20 inches; frame: 21 x 28 inches $450-650
