This map shows the city of Batavia in bird's eye view. It is the only optic print map in the University Library's Maps Collection. When you view this print through a special device with a large, convex lens with a mirror behind it, you see the city in 3D. These 18th- and 19th-century images with depth were very popular at the time, as people did not travel much themselves and could still experience other worlds this way.
An island on an island?
In this print, we see Batavia, the former headquarters of the United East India Company (VOC) in Asia, depicted as a kind of island, surrounded by water and a city wall. The street and canal pattern is regular. The title below the map reads ‘Compagnie des Indes’, referring to its function from 1619 to 1799. Batavia was located on the Indonesian island of Java. After Indonesia's independence, the city was renamed Jakarta.
Looking south
Batavia is on the north coast of Java, but the map faces south. South is at the top of the map, north at the bottom, exactly the opposite of what we are used to. The top of the map reads in mirror image: L'Isle de la ville de Batavia. Why is this so? In an optic, the image is displayed mirror-wise. To avoid misrepresentation, both the map itself and the text must be engraved in mirror image. A special skill.
Optica prints were often topographical representations made mainly in London, Paris, Bassano and Augsburg.
Literature
- Historical maps of Dutch cities / Dl. 4, Batavia / compiled and described by Bea Brommer ; with the cooperation of Dirk de Vries. Lisse : Stichting Historische Stadsplattegronden ; Alphen aan den Rijn : In collaboration with Uitgeverij ‘Canaletto’, 1992. Cf. IV BAT K51
- The optics, an instructive viewing entertainment 1. : entertainment for the well-to-do / C.J. Kaldenbach. In: The Book World 1(1984)2, p. 2-12.
Vue de l'isle et de la ville de Batavia appartenant aux Hollandois, pour la Compagnie des Indes
Paris : Daumont, [c. 1780]
1 map : engraving ; 25 x 39 cm
Dated situation: ca. 1655
Copy in mirror image after: The city of Batavia in the island of Java and capital of the Dutch factories & settlements in the East Indies / I. van Ryne. - London : R. Sayer, 1754
Signature: LL.05606gk
Image bank: http://imagebase.ubvu.vu.nl/cdm/singleitem/collection/krt/id/2719/rec/1
