Ortelius, Abraham

Began as a map colorist in 1547. Traveled throughout France and Italy with Gerard Mercator, whom he described as a friend and rival. Appointed Royal Geographer to King Philip II of Spain in 1575. His best-known work, “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum” was the first systematically collected set of maps by different mapmakers – and is acknowledged as the first atlas. Editions of his maps continued to be published after his death, first by Philippe Galle and his sons, with rights to the plates passing in 1601 to Jan Baptise Vrients.