Abraham Ortelius, a Flemish cartographer and geographer, is celebrated for his significant contributions to early modern cartography. Born in 1527 in Antwerp, he is best known for creating the first modern atlas, the “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum” (Theatre of the World), first published in 1570. This work was groundbreaking because it compiled maps from various sources into a uniform format, accompanied by detailed descriptions, making it accessible and informative for its audience. vintage maps