Abraham Ortelius (1527–1598)
What is Abraham Ortelius’s work worth?
As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 318 auction results for Abraham Ortelius at 43 houses since 1995. Over the last 24 months the median price was $716 including buyer’s premium (middle half $375–$1,953, n=18). The auction record is $199,050 for Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; Parergon; sive Veteris Geographiae Tabulae (2006, Christie's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, 1574 | Text and 70 mapsheets (plus 8 extraneous maps bound in); uncolored. Folio, early blind-stamped sheep | $18,400 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 1995 |
| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theatrum Orbis Terrarum; Parergon; sive Veteris Geographiae Tabulae, 1612-1624 | 177 engraved maps, finely colored at the time | $199,050 | Christie's | Jun 2006 |
| 2 | Theatre de l'Univers, contenant les cartes de tout le monde, avec une declaration d'icelles, 1581 | Engraved and hand-colored maps in in-folio | $59,890 | Christie's | Nov 2007 |
| 3 | Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, circa 1584 | Folio, contemporary gilt full calf, with engraved title and 112 maps | $39,100 | Skinner (Bonhams Skinner) | Nov 1998 |
| 4 | Parergon, sive Veteris Geographiae Aliquot Tabulae, [1609] | Engraved architectural title-page, 3 leaves of preliminary matter and 38 double-page engraved maps and plates all fully colored in a contemporary hand. bound with: Nomenclator Ptolemaicus. Letterpress sectional title with hand-colored engraved cartographic device | $32,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2017 |
| 5 | Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, 1584 | Engraved architectural title, engraved portrait of Ortelius and 110 (of 112) double-page engraved maps. 92 maps in contemporary hand-color with oxidized mineral pigments, 18 maps supplied from another copy with a different palate of hand-coloring | $30,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2017 |
| 6 | Abraham Ortelius His Epitome of the Theater of the Worlde, 1603 | Engraved maps, woodcut device, and letterpress title-page in contemporary limp vellum | $17,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jul 2020 |
| 7 | Typus Orbis Terrarum, 1613 | Double-page engraved map of the world with elaborate strapwork border design; continents with modest original hand-color in outline | $10,000 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2021 |
| 8 | Typus Orbis Terrarum, 1571 or 1573 | Double-page engraved world map, hand-colored | $9,100 | Swann Auction Galleries | Dec 2015 |
| 9 | Islandia, circa 1585 | Double-page engraved map, very nicely hand-colored | $8,500 | Swann Auction Galleries | Jun 2008 |
| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Other | 32 | $998 |
| Prints | 154 | $687 |
| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 50 cm) | 78 | $872 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 78 | $725 |
Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 318 results from 43 houses · How we compute these figures
Abraham Ortelius is a Flemish artist with 329 auction lots recorded since 1995, median price $592. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.
A work by Abraham Ortelius sold in 2026 for $681, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.
See the full Abraham Ortelius record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Abraham Ortelius on OpeningBid →What is a Abraham Ortelius work worth?
Across 266 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Abraham Ortelius work is $592.
The median Abraham Ortelius print sells for $575 across 241 lots.
The median Abraham Ortelius photograph sells for $673 across 3 lots.
The median Abraham Ortelius work on paper sells for $405 across 3 lots.
Medium (50–120 cm) Abraham Ortelius prints typically sell for $400–$1,750 (the middle half of 113 sold lots).
Small (under 50 cm) Abraham Ortelius prints typically sell for $294–$1,189 (the middle half of 98 sold lots).
Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
Price breakdown by category
| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 274 | $575†‡ | $10,000 | 88% | 2026-04-30 |
| Works on Paper | 3 | $405†‡ | $520† | — | 2025-04-09 |
| Photography | 3 | $673‡ | $700‡ | — | 2021-09-08 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 16 | $13,195†‡ | $199,050 | — | 2024-04-04 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Price by size
Prints & Editions
| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 98 | $294–$1,189†‡ | $576†‡ | $8,500 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 113 | $400–$1,750†‡ | $687†‡ | $10,000 |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.
Notable results
| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 2021 | $10,000 |
| Prints & Editions | 2015 | $9,100 |
| Photography | 2021 | $700‡ |
| Photography | 2021 | $673‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $520† |
| Works on Paper | 2024 | $405‡ |
† hammer price — buyer's premium not included. ‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.
The highest recorded result in each medium. See the full sale history on OpeningBid.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Abraham Ortelius worth?
Across 266 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Abraham Ortelius work is $592. The median Abraham Ortelius print sells for $575 across 241 lots. The median Abraham Ortelius photograph sells for $673 across 3 lots. The median Abraham Ortelius work on paper sells for $405 across 3 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Abraham Ortelius prints typically sell for $400–$1,750 (the middle half of 113 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Abraham Ortelius prints typically sell for $294–$1,189 (the middle half of 98 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a Abraham Ortelius print?
Based on 241 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Abraham Ortelius print is $575. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Abraham Ortelius's most expensive print?
The highest price recorded at auction for a Abraham Ortelius print is $10,000.
What is the average price of a medium Abraham Ortelius print?
Based on 113 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Abraham Ortelius print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $687, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is the average price of a small Abraham Ortelius print?
Based on 98 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Abraham Ortelius print (small (under 50 cm)) is $576, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.
What is Abraham Ortelius's auction record?
Abraham Ortelius's auction record is $199,050, set in 2006.
See the full Abraham Ortelius record on OpeningBid — images, provenance, fair estimates and free sale alerts.
View Abraham Ortelius on OpeningBid →