Mapping Iceland

Abraham Ortelius’ Theatrum, the first true geographic atlas, was very successful commercially. Philip Galle, did though see an additional opportunity by going to the lower-end of the market with a cheaper product. The outcome was a mini atlas, named Epitome, with much smaller maps, first published in 1577. This publication became very popular and was translated in prose form into French (1579), Latin (1585), Italian (1593), English (1603), and German (1604). The maps in the Epitome are not just much smaller, but also done with much less care. The likeness between Islandia in Epitome and Theatrum does not go beyond the general shape of the country.