Insula Ceilon Olim Taprobana Incolix Tenarisin et Lankwan…

Spectacular large Dutch chart solely devoted to the island of Ceylon, decorated with an ornate title cartouche of three natives, palm tree and an Elephant. The association of the Elephant motif first appeared on the map of Ceylon in Munsters&#8217 Geographia in 1544 and was later adopted by the British for the Ceylonese colonial coat of arms. In ancient times Greek geographers called the island Taprobane and the Arabs referred to it as Serendib whist the Portuguese named it Ceilao which in turn was translated by the English as Ceylon. Ceylon positioned on the main sea routes to and from the east was always a coveted target of the major maritime powers trading enterprises. This map by Nichlaas Visscher and published in his, Atlas Contractus, with the words Cum Privil. indicates that it was printed after Visscher was granted a patent in July 1677 by the States of Holland and West Fiesland for a period of fifteen years. References PAR CEII pg 122./123