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Nice example of the rare first edition of De Jode's map sheet of Pomerania, Dithmarschen and Prussia from the Speculm Orbis Terrarum.

The present configuration of three maps appeared exclusively in in Gerard De Jode's exceedingly rare atlas, Speculum Orbis Terrarum (1578). The map of Pomerania, that occupies the upper half of the sheet, extends from just west of Rostock to Gdansk (Danzig). The geography is based on Sebastian Münster's Beschreibung des Landts Pomern (Basle, 1550). The map of Dithmarschen, located in the lower-left corner of the map, depicts the area of Schleswig, Germany that lies between the mouths of the Elbe and Eider Rivers on the North Sea, and is derived from Peter Boekel's Beschribung vom landt zu Ditmers (1559). The map of Prussia in the lower-right corner is based on Heinrich Zell's map of 1542, which he produced in collaboration with Nicholas Copernicus.

Gerard De Jode (1521-91) created some of the most geographically progressive and artistically virtuous maps of the 16th-century. Born in Nijmegen, he made his way to the great commercial center of Antwerp, where his joined the Guild of St. Luke in 1547. In 1564, he printed Abraham Ortelius' famous eight-sheet cordiform World map. Inspired by the success of Ortelius' Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (1570), De Jode set out to produce his own atlas. However, Ortelius used his extensive political connections to ensure that De Jode's efforts were obstructed, for his grant of a royal publishing privilige was delayed for 5 years. Finally, in 1578, De Jode published his magnficent 2-volume atlas, the Speculm Orbis Terrarum. De Jode's maps were based on the very best geographic sources, and employed artistically virtuous design rendered with the highest standards of engraving. In many respects, his maps were condisered to be of superior quality to Ortelius' works. In spite of these virtues, De Jode's atlas was not a financial success and very few copies were ever issued. Indeed, today only a dozen complete copies of the Speculum Orbis Terrarum are known to exist.

De Jode endeavored to issue an expanded second edtion of the atlas, Speculum Orbis Terrae (1593), which was finished and published after his death by his son, Cornelis. The 1593 edition of the Pomerania and Dithmarschen map can be viewed here: /gallery/detail/27272

De Jode's maps from the Speculum of 1578 are especially rare. The present map has only appeared once in a dealer's listing during the last 30 years.