This is a map from the time when the Netherlands, or rather the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands, was the centre of world trade. Consequently, many ships 'sailed' the oceans and seas. It is the first sheet of a so-called 'atlas factice' with a unique compilation of maps of various origins. They are copper engravings with often fine decorations, of which 33 maps are coloured in. This world map is the first from an atlas of 216 maps, published between 1579 and 1705.
Terra Australis Incognita: the unknown Southland
The map has a structure usual for the time: Europe, Africa and Asia on the right, America on the left. The Poles are depicted as two circles: the South Pole at the bottom right and the North Pole at the bottom left. The map depicts the South Pole as the unknown Southland: Terra Australis Incognita. Next to it is the name of the printer: C.J. Visscher excudebat and the year 1652. The degree grid shows that Mercator projection was used to depict the world. As a result, areas near the Poles, such as Greenland, are depicted relatively large.
A bull, camel, armadillo and crocodile symbolise the continents of the world
The side of the map is illustrated with so-called border views. The four corners of the map show female personifications of the four known continents: Europe with a bull, Asia with a camel, America with an armadillo and Africa with a crocodile. Furthermore, above and below the map image we see Roman emperors on horseback. On either side are cityscapes and costumed figures. The stately gentlemen near ‘Amsterdam’ are clearly trading, as can be seen by the moneybag.
The maps in this atlas were made by well-known mapmakers such as Blaeu, Janssonius, Visscher and De Wit. It mainly includes maps of areas in Europe. The atlas begins with this world map.
Literature:
Atlas factice with 216 maps on display in Image Bank University Library Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/ Lida Ruitinga. In: Caert-Thresoor 33(2014)1, p.33.
Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula / Claes Janszoon Visscher
Scale [ca 1:50,000,000]
[Amsterdam] : C.J. Visscher excudebat, 1652
1 atlas sheet : copper engraving ; 45 x 56 cm
Signature: XL.05243.- sheet 1
Image bank: https://vu.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/krt/id/2978/
