1719 Mappe Monde pour connoitre les progress & conquests les plus Remarquables des Provinces-Unies, Ainsy que celles des Compagnies d'Orient et d'Occident.
DESCRIPTION
This double-hemisphere world map was published by Henri Abraham Chatelain in the 1719 edition of his Atlas Historique, one of the most ambitious encyclopedic atlases of the Enlightenment. Designed for an educated audience, the work extends beyond geography to include history, cosmography, genealogy, and cultural studies, reflecting the period’s growing appetite for organized knowledge.
The map presents the world in two hemispheres, offering a largely accurate depiction of the Eastern Hemisphere while retaining several well-known misconceptions of the early 18th century. Most notable are the depiction of California as an island and the exaggerated extension of eastern South America. Even so, the map incorporates many of the latest findings from contemporary exploration and navigation.
A central feature of the composition is its emphasis on global trade and exploration, particularly the dominance of the Dutch East India Company. Emblems representing its various chambers flank the hemispheres, while important maritime routes, including those used for trade and circumnavigation, are traced across the oceans. The detailed treatment of the Spice Islands reflects the Dutch familiarity with and control over this critical region.
Decorative elements remain present but restrained, including ships at sea, heraldic lions, and an allegorical figure of Europa seated within an ornate crown. Surrounding explanatory text reinforces the map’s dual role as both a geographic reference and an educational tool, issued under privilege in Holland and West Friesland.
CONDITION
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