Tabula Indiae Orientalis et Regnorum Adjacentium J. Van Braam et G. onder de Linden

Valentyn’s important chart of Australia showing the Dutch discoveries from the most important record of the Dutch East Indies.

The chart extends from Africa to Australia and covers the areas where the Dutch either directly controlled or traded. Valentyn had studied theology and travelled twice to the East Indies in the employ of the Dutch East India Company (V.O.C), firstly as a Calvinist minister on the spice island of Amboina (1686-1694) and then to Java (1706) and again Amboina (1707-1713). In the preparation of his historical account of the V.O.C. in the East, Valentyn was given privileged access to the secret archives of the company, enabling him to provide detailed information from primary sources such as log books of previous Dutch voyages to the Indies, including those of Abel Tasman. Australia is shown with the following Dutch discoveries; 1606 Jansz (the first European discovery and landing of Australia), 1616 Hartog, 1619 Houtman, 1622 Triall Islands, 1622 van Leeuwin, 1623 Carstensz, 1628 de Witt, 1623, Colster, 1627 Nuyts, 1642-3 Tasman

From Francois Valentyn’s (1656-1727), Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien, vervattende Een Naaukeurige…..