"Bay et Chateau de Porto Bello", Aa, Pieter van der

This handsome map of historic Portobello Bay was copied from Pierre Mortier's map of circa 1692. Portobello was a strategic Spanish transfer point for gold and silver coming from South America. The map shows the locations of two forts protecting the bay -- Fort Grande (Santiago) and Fort de le Mare (San Felipe) -- as well as the location of the King's stables (San Jeronimo), where gold and silver was loaded onto ships. The map is beautifully presented with a compass rose and rhumb lines. This map was first published by Hubert Jaillot in Atlas Nouveau circa 1700 with the plate number 161 at bottom right, and then was used in various atlases by Covens & Mortier. Once Van der Aa acquired the plate, the plate number was removed.

References: Kapp (MCC-73) #32; cf. Pastoureau, JAILLOT I F [362].

Condition: A

A dark impression on paper with a fleur-de-lis watermark, light printer's ink residue, and minor toning. There are a few small spots of foxing confined to the blank margins.