Indiae Orientalis nec non Insularum Adiacentium Nova Descriptio.

The rare early issue of this superb Dutch c.18th map by Nicholas Visscher I of the East Indies, extending from India to northern Australia and showing the Dutch discoveries on the western side of Cape York Peninsula, issued prior to him being granted privilege in 1677.

The map does not have the words; Cum Privilegio Ordinum Hollandie et Westfeine‘, which appears within northern Australia in later issues, as Nicholas Visscher I (1618-1679) was only granted privilege in 1677. The majority of examples in institutional collections and reference books are of later issues.

The Dutch discoveries in Australia shown, include those of 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. Subsequent to the two voyages of Abel Tasman in 1642-1644 and his subsequent reports, the VOC’s interest in the Australian coast was purely one of navigation. They no longer attempted to engage in trade with the indigenous population, as Tasman had been instructed nor did they further explorer the coast line. Their charting was devoted soley to the updating of their existing charts. A superb decorative title cartouche at lower left, comprised of a carved stone block, surrounded by oriental figures, a variety of trade goods, birds and animals, set against a back drop of palm trees. The Visschers were a Dutch family of mapmakers, engravers and publishers who became one of the largest firms in Holland in the seventeenth century. As none of the Visscher’s atlases were issued with printed dates, it has always been difficult to precisely date their maps.

From: Visscher I, N. Atlas Contractus Orbis Terrarum Praecipuas ac Novissimas Complectens Tabulas. Amsterdam (The map also appears in Visscher II, Atlas Minor Sive Geographia Compendiosa.. printed c1688, with privilege on the map. see Shirley, R. Maps of the Atlases in the British Library, T.VIS-3a, Vol. 2  (Maps C.39.f9/2- 106