Album Amicorum of Abraham Ortelius, c. 1574-1598

Item

Reference Code: GBR/1058/ORT/1

Album Amicorum of Abraham Ortelius

Scope and Contents

The Album comprises contributions (signatures, inscriptions, poems, drawings, engravings, coats of arms) to Ortelius from a distinguished and international group of his friends.

Dates

Creation: c. 1574-1598

Extent

1 volume(s)

Language of Materials

Latin

Greek, Ancient (to 1453)

Hebrew

Dutch; Flemish

External Documents

The ‘Album amicorum’ of Abraham Ortelius, Cambridge University Library Special Collections blog.

Additional Description

Other Finding Aids

Very full details of the Album Amicorum can be found via the Cambridge University Digital Library website which can be accessed via the Digital Material link below.

Former reference

7:8:22 and LC II 113

Immediate Source of Acquisition

In 1594 Ortelius appears to have presented the Album Amicorum to his nephew Jacobus Colius, but later additions occur. There is no record as to when and through whom Pembroke College finally obtained it, but there is a bookplate reading 'Ex Dono Ricardi Atwood AM' at the front. However, Matthew Wren’s catalogue indicates that the donor was Thomas Stanley (1625-1678), the poet, classical scholar, and historian of philosophy.