Vintage illustration antique world map featuring the Americas, 1570. By cartographer Abraham Ortelius. Abraham Ortelius (1527-1598) was a Flemish cartographer and geographer, generally recognised as the creator of the first modern atlas, the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum (Theatre of the World). He is also believed to be the first person to imagine that the continents were joined together before drifting to their present positions. This chart show continents, North, South and Central America, with the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and Antarctica. A beautiful ornate inset with the title Americae Sive Novi Orbis No Va Sescriptio is in the corner. Large ships with sails are navigating and travelling the seas.