The map by Gerritt Van Schagen (1642-1690) captures the European misconceptions of Africa typical of the late seventeenth century. The Nile appears to be rising from the three lakes of Zaire, Zembre and Zafflan. The prime meridian, the zero-degree longitude line, is plotted through the Canary Islands which to the ancients was the western edge of the inhabited world. The interior is decorated with monkeys, elephants, lions, rhinoceroses, leopard and ostriches. The sea is decorated with ships, whales and flying fish. The title cartouche in the upper left right is surrounded by two Africans, one holding a scorpion and the other a cornucopia with sea sprites at their feet. The elaborate decoration at the lower left is Neptune surrounded by his wife, Amphitrite, and their sons, the Tritons, along with Nereids, the sea nymphs. 52 x 62cm.
This double hemisphere map by Justus Danckerts (1635-1701) is accompanied by two small hemispheres based on the North and South Poles. The South Pole only includes the southernmost tip of South America. The North Pole shows parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. Four scenes surround the map and symbolize the four elements: fire, air, earth and water. In the upper left scene fire is symbolized with a scene of war and destruction and by Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guarded the gate to Hades. The upper right scene is of air with Olympus and the zodiac. The bottom left depicts earth with a pastoral scene symbolizing peace. Ships, a sea monster (whale), Neptune with his wife Amphitrite and their sons, the Tritons, all represent water in the lower right scene. "M King" 1811" written on upper right. Amsterdam. 52 x 62cm.
In this map by Gerrit van Schagen (1642-1690) California is a large island, there is one Great Lake (Lac contenant), a large open lake in place of the western Great Lakes, and the conjectural Northwest Passage, with the Straits of Anian. The elaborate title cartouche at the bottom left contains scenes of native Americans hunting, panning for gold and a chief standing beneath an umbrella. Also, the map shows other small illustrations: a war being waged by Indians in South America and a figure lying in a hammock. There is a large vignette at the top left of Neptune and his sons, the Tritons. 51 x 62cm.
Decorative map of Ireland by Nicolaes Visscher (1649-1702). Impressive title cartouche with Pan and the Gaelic harp. Highly decorative scale of miles references William III, king of England, Scotland and Ireland 1689-1702. Visscher created this map shortly after William Petty's exhaustive survey of Ireland (the Down Survey) was published. Amsterdam. 52 x 62cm.
Map of Scandinavia by Justus Danckerts (1635-1701) includes the Baltic and part of Russia. The title cartouche with an armorer's forge and Swedish coat of arms probably alludes to Sweden's power in the late seventeenth century. 52 x 62cm
Map of Europe by Justus Danckerts (1635-1701) includes western Russia and Iceland. The title cartouche on left supported by putti. Other embellishments show the abduction of Europa by Zeus, a sea monster and ships on the oceans. Amsterdam. 52 x 62cm.
Map of the Peloponnese in southern Greece by Justus Danckerts (1635-1701). Written next to many cities on the map (Athens, Corinth) are the dates they were recovered by the Venetians from Ottoman control. Latest date found on map is 1687. Title cartouche depicts the Venetian lion towering over Turkish soldiers. Amsterdam. 52 x 62cm.
Map of Portugal and Algarve by Johannes de Ram (1648-1693). The title cartouche in the upper left depicts cherubs holding the Portuguese coat of arms; a note within the cartouche explains that the longitudinal lines on the map are based from the prime meridian that runs through Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The scale cartouche in the lower right features Neptune with a trident and two cherubs holding the coat of arms of Algarve, then a semi-autonomous region of Portugal. Amsterdam. 52 x 62cm.
One of three maps by Nicolaes Visscher (1649-1702) collectively showing the entire length of the Danube. This map covers the middle part of the river from Linz through Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, to just east of Belgrade. Amsterdam. 52 x 62cm.
This map was engraved by Johannes L'Huilier and corrected by Frederick de Wit (1630-1706). The map encompasses the regions from India to Southern China, Taiwan, the Philippines, the East Indies and Indonesia with parts of northwest Australia identified as Hollandia Nova. Many islands with their ports are shown. The title cartouche at the top right is surrounded by turbaned warriors and native figures. 52 x 62cm.
