Novissima Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula, Auctore Nicolao Visscher.

Spectacular, Dutch double hemisphere world map and one of the classic examples of the mapmakers art.

The four spheres are surrounded by numerous scenes showing the various zodiacs, accompanied by cherubs and other heavenly figures.

Australia is shown
with the early Dutch discoveries made by: Hartog 1616, Houtman 1619, van Leeuwin 1622,
Cartensz 1623, Nuyts 1627 and de Wit 1628. The first European discovery of the
Australian coast by Willem Jansz in 1606, on Cape York Peninsula is not shown. The
subsequent discoveries made by Abel Tasman on his first and second voyages
1642-1644, resulted in the depiction of the Australian coastline that was to remain
unchanged until James Cook’s discovery of the east coast in 1770.

The instructions Tasman was given for his two voyages was, to explore and extend the charts of the known
parts of the New Holland coast discovered by the Dutch and to ‘engage in trade’ with the inhabitants.
Tasman’s subsequent reports of the Aborigines lack of possessions or commercial
goods, convinced the VOC that New Holland lacked any opportunities for future
trading. As a consequence they lost interest in New Holland other than for the updating
of their navigational charts.

California is shown as an island and its north coast flattened, while further north a small piece of land or an island named Anian, appears adjacent to a strait leading to the western shores of Hudson Bay.

Issued in Van Keulen’s monumental sea atlas De Groote Nieuwe Vermeerderde Zee-Atlas ofte Waterwerelt, in 1695.

References:

Koemen IV p.293, Keu 20B (4), Shirley 486, ill. Pl. 354.