"Caart van het Eyland Manipa [on sheet with] Caart van het Eyland Noessa-Laoet [and] Caart van het Eyland Honimoa [and] Caart van het Eyland Oma", Valentyn, Francois

The famous Spice Islands are represented in this very handsome chart. Four panels detail the islands of Manipa, Honimoa, Oma and Noessa-Laoet. A fifth panel shows warriors at battle with knife, sword and decorative shield, with traditional buildings in the background. Charts are embellished with rhumb lines and compass roses. Valentyn was an important historian of the Dutch East India Company who is best known for Oud en Nieuw Oost Indien, his vast illustrated account of the Dutch trading empire in Asia. He twice traveled to the East Indies. In preparing this monumental work, he was given privileged access to the previously secret archives of the VOC, containing transcripts and copies of important earlier Dutch voyages.

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Condition: A

Strong, dark impression on thick hand laid paper with wide margins. Very fine recent coloring.