Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Orbis terrarum nova et accuratissima tabula

Orbis terrarum nova et accuratissima tabula

1666

Printed map, hand coloured
Amsterdam: Pieter Goos, 1666
Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
Z/Cb 67/2

This lavishly decorated map was originally published in De Zee-Atlas ofte Water-Werel (The Sea Atlas of the Water World) in Amsterdam in 1666, considered one of the finest sea atlases of its time. Along the top edge is a flock of birds, including a goose, flying towards the sun, and along the base are allegorical figures representing the four seasons. The map includes insets of the North and South poles, the empty South Pole region titled simply ‘Australis Incognita’. The north western portion of North America is not charted and California is drawn as an island. The continent of Australia, named Hollandia Nova, includes the southern tip of Tasmania as charted by Abel Tasman.

The engraver and cartographer Pieter Goos was a member of an important mapmaking dynasty, begun by his father Abraham Goos, who published numerous globes, land and sea maps. Following Pieter’s death, later editions of his maps and atlas were published by his widow: few women were trained members of the publishing guilds, but some worked alongside their husbands for decades and inherited their guild rights.

The art of mapmaking

In the 17th century the Dutch raised the craft of mapmaking to an art form. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was the most powerful trading company in the world, and the Dutch trading ships controlled the fastest routes between the gold and spice rich East Indies and the lucrative European markets. The chief cartographer of the VOC coordinated the creation of new charts and ensured that the ships’ captains were issued with the most accurate charts for their voyage. He also insisted that the charts be handed back on their return to ensure that knowledge of the sea routes and navigation instructions remained secret.

Separate to the practical sailing charts were the beautifully designed and decorated display maps, which represented Dutch trading supremacy and displayed the latest discoveries. The artwork on these maps, including ornate decoration, biblical scenes, mythical themes and winter landscapes, reflected the flourishing of art generally in the Netherlands in the 17th century.