"Sinus Omnium Sanctoru", Merian, Matthaus

This impressive copper engraving covers Todos os Santos Bay (All Saints Bay) in northeastern Brazil. The map depicts a large fleet of Dutch ships entering the bay and locates several battle sites. The map illustrates the region during the time when the Dutch were attempting to gain control of the Portuguese colonies and lucrative sugar trade in Brazil. In 1624 the Dutch captured and sacked the Salvador da Bahia, and held it along with other northeast ports until it was retaken by a Spanish-Portuguese fleet. The city then played a strategically vital role in the Portuguese-Brazilian resistance against the Dutch in the 1630s. At bottom left, there is large inset plan of Civitas S. Salvatoris (San Salvador) with a lettered key identifying important locations. Both the map and inset map are adorned with ribbon-style title cartouches and compass roses.

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Condition: A

A nice impression on a bright sheet with a small coat of arms watermark and light printer's ink residue. There is a crack along the edge of the plate at bottom right.