Description
Map of the East Indies, extending from India to northern Australia, with the Dutch discoveries made on the western side of Cape York Peninsula.
A superb, decorative title cartouche at lower left, comprised of a carved stone block, surrounded by oriental figures, trade goods, birds and animals, is set against a backdrop of palm trees.
The Dutch discoveries in Australia, include: Carstensz in the Pera on Cape York 1623, Tasman’s second voyage on the northern Australian coast 1644 and those of van Colster in the Arnhem 1623. After the subsequent reports made by Tasman to the authorities in Batavia, the VOC concluded that Australia lacked any worthwhile trading opportunities and from that time on, any further charting of the Australian coast by the VOC was made purely to upgrade existing charts. They no longer attempted to engage in trade with the indigenous population, as Tasman had been instructed to do, nor did they make further attempts to explore the Australian coast.
New Guinea is shown with an uncharted west coast and named Terra dos Papous.
From Schenk edition of Visscher’s II Atlas Minor sive Geographia Compendiosa.
References:
Tooley, R.V. The Mapping of Australia. London 1979: : 1300, p.204.
Quirino, C. Philippine Cartography (1320-1899) Amsterdam 2010 Manila : p.112, ill.p.118
Parry, D. The Cartography of the East Indian Islands Insulae Indiae Orientalis. London 2005 : p.119-122, ill.4.3
Fell, T. Early Maps of South-East Asia. Singapore 1991 : ill. 4.
Phillips, P. A List of Geographical Atlases in the Library of Congress. Washington 1973 : 506.
Mickwitz & Miekkavaara, The A.E. Nordenskiold Collection of Maps up to 1800 Helsinki 1979-1995: 952.
Koeman, C. Atlantes Neerlandici. Amsterdam 1967. Volumes I-V : V-III, VIS 5, VIS 6-53.
Shirley, R. Maps of the Atlases in the British Library, T.VIS-3a, Vol. 2: Maps C.39.f9/2- 106
Collections:
National Library Australia: Bib ID 34393
State Library New South Wales: M2 470/1680/1 , Z/M2 470/1680/1
National Library Board Singapore: BRN: 200155671 (digital copy)
