Search

Taken from Benedetto Bordone's ‘Isolario [The Book of Islands]’, these pages contain two maps: one of Sumatra (‘Iaua Minore’), and one of a group of five unknown islands (Locaz is thought to possibly be Thailand).

The Latin title of this map refers to an Admiral Wibrand of Warwick, who visited the island of Amboina (Ambon Island in the Maluku Islands) in March 1599.

This small island chain off the west coast of Gilolo (Halmahera in the Maluku Islands, Indonesia), was an important area for the spice trade. Latin text on the reverse describes the trade/islands. North is located to the right, rather than the top.

This mid-17th century map of Southeast Asia is from Isaac Commelin’s book describing the voyages of the Dutch East India Company ‘Begin ende voortgangh…’. There is an inset map of the island of Botton (Buton Island, southeast of Celebes (Sulawesi)).

A navigation map of the Banda Islands marked with bathymetry (sea depth), shoals and anchor points. On the island of Goenonghapy (Banda Api), a volcano erupts (‘api’ means ‘fire’ in Indonesian), and there is a military fort (‘Campa Nga’) on Nera.

Map of Timor with Dutch and Portuguese flags marking military forts. Details are represented pictorially e.g. villages by small houses, forests by trees. There are extensive handwritten annotations, with some text translated from Dutch to French.

A map of Java with mountains, jungles, animals and crops. Bathymetry (sea depth) is marked, including on an inset map of Batavia harbour. Illustrations include Batavia Castle, and a lion—representing Belgium—receiving tribute and enslaving locals.

A map of a small island chain off the west coast of the island of Gilola (modern Halmahera in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia). The military forts on the islands were used by the European colonial powers during conflicts over the area’s spice trade.

The mountains and forests of early 18th century Java are beautifully illustrated here by the Dutch cartographer Henry Abraham Chatelain (1648-1743). Details include cities, fields of crops, animals and people. An inset map shows the port of Batavia.

The mountains and forests of early 18th century Java are beautifully illustrated here by the Dutch cartographer Henry Abraham Chatelain (1648-1743). Details include cities, fields of crops, animals and people. An inset map shows the port of Batavia.

A map of west Java with mountains, jungles, animals and crops. Details include sea depth, an inset map of Batavia harbour, and an illustration of a lion—representing Belgium—receiving tribute and enslaving locals. A similar map of east Java was made.

A map of west Java with mountains, jungles, animals and crops. Details include sea depth, an inset map of Batavia harbour, and an illustration of a lion—representing Belgium—receiving tribute and enslaving locals. A similar map of east Java was made.