Ortelius's map of The New World. This map of the Americas is from the 1603 edition of 'Theatrum orbis terrarum' (Theatre of the World). First published in 1570 by Flemish mapmaker Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598), this collection is considered to be the first true modern atlas. There were three versions of the 'Americae sive novi orbis, nova descriptio' map: 1570, 1579, and 1587. This is the 1603 state of the 1587 version (date given in text at lower right). Several states were produced between 1587 and 1612. The cartouche at upper left refers to unknown northern regions. New discoveries include New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (far left).