From Frederick de Wit's Sea Atlas Orbis Maritimus ofte Zee Atlas. Classical sea charts of the Eastern and Western East Indies, covering the whole charter of the VOC, from the Cape of Good Hope to Japan.

The two adjacent charts cover the Indian Ocean theater, southeast Asia, China, the South China seas, Japan, Korea and the western Pacific. Australia is shown with the Tasman discoveries.

This uniform set is from the rare Frederick de Wit first edition first state of 1675 of these classic Dutch sea chart.

Both charts are especially sought after because of the stunning ethnograpic title cartouches, showing the people, wildlife and products of the regions.

The charts were re-issued 40 years later in a second state (see example here) by Louis Renard in his Atlas de la Navigation et du Commerce. Amsterdam, 1715. The second states have plate numbers e.g. "Fol.21." added in the upper right, and when colored it has the typical wash color that was fashionable in the 18th century, instead of the line coloring of the 17th century.

A third state (see example here) was re-issued 70 years after the first state, by Reinier and Joshua Ottens, Amsterdam 1745. It has their imprint added ad the bottom of the cartouche, and Tasmania inserted.

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This finely engraved map appeared in de Wit's Atlas Maritime, an atlas of sea charts covering the whole world. This is the most detailed chart of the Australian coasts, although the equivalent map of the Pacific includes Tasman's detail to the south.

(Potter on the eastern sheet).

Condition

Beautiful early line coloring from de Wit's publishing house. First edition, first state. Strong early imprint of the copperplate. Minimal strengthening of the verdigris (copper oxidation of the green colors), but no loss. Overall a gorgeous set in collector's condition.

Frederick de Wit was one of the most prominent and successful map engravers and publishers in Amsterdam in the period following the decline of the Blaeu and Jansson establishments, from which he acquired many copper plates when they were dispersed at auction.

His output covered most aspects of map making: sea charts, world atlases, an atlas of the Netherlands, ‘town books' covering plans of towns and cities in the Netherlands and Europe, and wall maps. His work, notable for the beauty of the engraving and colouring, was very popular and editions were issued many years after his death by Pieter Mortier and Covens and Mortier.

(Moreland and Bannister)

Antique maps of the East India Company
Antique maps of Australia
Antique maps of Japan
Antique maps of China
Antique maps of the Philippines
Antique maps of Southeast Asia
Antique maps of India and Ceylon
Antique maps of Korea
Antique maps of the Middle East
Antique maps of Asia
Antique maps of Africa
Old books, maps and prints by Frederick de Wit