Magnificent, c.18th original hand coloured example of the Reinier and Joshua Ottens edition of Frederick De Wit’s famous chart of Australia oriented with north to the left.
This final edition now includes van Diemen’s Land which is lacking in all earlier editions, this edition is much scarcer than the earlier ones.
Australia is shown with the Dutch discoveries up to Tasman’s first and second voyages in 1642-43. A number of other mapmakers made near identical charts using the same orientation, including van Loon 1661, Goos 1666, Doncker 1669 and Seller 1670. This map was based on the prototype by van Loon, issued in his ‘Klaer Lichtende Noort-Ster Ofte Zee Atlas‘. At lower left de Wit places a decorative title cartouche comprising numerous robed figures, birds and trade goods. It’ use as a sea chart is borne by the numerous rhumb lines and compass points. The other Dutch discoveries noted include: Hartog 1616, Houtman 1619, van Leeuwin 1622, Cartensz 1623, Nuyts 1627 and de Wit 1628. The characteristic feature of Dutch charts produced in the second half of the seventeenth century is that they were based solely on the results of actual observation and where that was lacking, no coastlines were shown.
This chart was reissued a number of times by the following publishers:
1675 De Wit 1st edition
1715 Louis Renard
1739 Reinier and Josua Ottens (with the addition of Van Diemen’s Land)
1745 Reinier and Josua Ottens (with the addition of Van Diemen’s Land)
1802 G Hulst van Keulen (widow) (with the addition of Van Diemen’s Land)
From; Ottens’ edition of de Wit’s, ‘Atlas dvan Zeevart en Koophandel door de Geheele Weereldt. Amsterdam P.432-435, Ren 3, (31) Fol. 28
References:
Clancy, R. The Mapping of Terra Australia. Sydney 1995 : : p.83, ill.6.13.
Parry, D. The Cartography of the East Indian Islands Insulae Indiae Orientalis. London 2005 : : p.119, ill pl 4.31.
Perry, T. The Discovery of Australia. Sydney 1982 : : p.51, ill.23.
Quirino, C. Philippine Cartography (1320-1899) Amsterdam 2010 Manila : : p.112.
Suarez, T. Early Mapping of Southeast Asia. Singapore 1999 : : p.209.
Walter, L. Japan a Cartographic Vision. New York 1994 : : ill. pl.40.
Tooley, R.V. The Mapping of Australia. London 1979 : : 1369, ill. pl.100, p.204.
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 : 1941-69, 1986.
Koeman, C. Atlantes Neerlandici. Amsterdam 1967. Vol IV, Ren 3, (24), p. 434
Collections:
University Library Melbourne: 11343/113762
National Library Australia: Bib id; 69575
National Gallery Australia: LEGACY ID 46178
State Library New South Wales: Call Numbers: Z/M2 801/1745/2 , M2 801/1745/2 , Z/M2 801/1745/1 , M2 801/1745/1
