c. 1670 – F. de Wit – Nova Orbis Tabula
4,500 €
Title: “Nova Orbis Tabula in Lucem Edita A. F. de Wit”
(A new map of the world, published by F. de Wit)
Description:
One of the most decorative world maps of the Dutch Golden Age, published in Amsterdam around 1670 by Frederick de Wit. This is the first state, with the spaces between the hemispheres still blank.
The two hemispheres are framed by large allegorical scenes of the four seasons. Each season is accompanied by its three signs of the zodiac, and the four elements are woven into the scenes:
- Spring (upper left): Venus with Cupid and his bow, while putti hang garlands of flowers and tulips and roses bloom in the foreground. A garlanded bull (Taurus) is led along, a putto rides a ram (Aries), and two putti perched on the North Pole inset stand for Gemini.
- Summer (upper right): Ceres, crowned with wheat, oversees the harvest as putti carry sheaves. One putto flies overhead holding a crayfish (Cancer), another leads a lion (Leo), and a seated maiden in the background represents Virgo.
- Autumn (lower left): a drunken Bacchus, crowned with vine leaves, is carried aloft by satyrs, while a reveller lies collapsed in the foreground beside grapes and gourds. Putti hold the scales (Libra) and a scorpion (Scorpio), and a centaur archer (Sagittarius) gallops past.
- Winter (lower right): an old crowned king in a fur-trimmed robe strides through the cold. A child pours water from two jugs (Aquarius), another dangles fish from a pole (Pisces) and others drag a goat (Capricorn), while a hooded child warms his hands beside a smoking fire.
The map has two polar projections, of the North Pole above and the South Pole below. California is shown as an island. Abel Tasman’s discoveries of 1642–1644 appear as fragments of New Holland, Van Diemen’s Land and New Zealand, set against the vast “Australia Incognita”. Rodney Shirley called it one of the most attractive world maps of its time.
Frederick de Wit (c. 1630–1706) was born in Gouda and moved to Amsterdam in 1648. His shop “De Witte Pascaert” (The White Chart) became one of the city’s leading map businesses. After his death the plates passed to Pieter Mortier, whose firm later became Covens & Mortier.
Cartographer: Frederick de Wit (1630 – 1706)
Sheet size: 51,0 x 61,0 cm
Plate size: 47,8 x 58,0 cm
Year: c. 1670
Technique: copper engraving
Reference: Shirley, The Mapping of the World, no. 451, first state (of 2)
Condition:
Good. Contemporary hand colour. Light toning and soiling, mainly in the margins. Centrefold and margins restored on verso.
This is an original antique map published circa 1670 and NOT a modern copy or reprint
On your request we will provide a Certificate of Authenticity
In stock
