De Groote Nieuwe Vermeerderde Zee-Atlas ofte Water-Waerld
1695
Bound volume
Amsterdam: J Van Keulen, 1695?
Bequest of Sir William Dixson, 1952
DL F69/2
In the 17th century, celestial charts were produced in the same lavish style as terrestrial charts and maps. Here the constellations, including the 12 zodiacal constellations from Aries to Pisces, are beautifully depicted as images of Greek gods and mythical creatures, often highlighted in gold.
The atlas was published by the Van Keulen family, who operated a chart-making and publishing firm in Amsterdam for nearly 200 years.
The highest pinnacle
Sir William Dixson purchased this atlas in 1939 for £100 from Francis Edwards Ltd in London.
A letter encouraging the purchase states:
"The Atlas is a rarity since it was used as a practical sea-atlas by navigators. Our copy is in very good condition excepting only that a number of margins have had to be strengthened, and there is a slight pigmentation on a number of maps. There is an Index in manuscript.
The charts are most attractively decorated with people of the country, natives etc. also typical scenes, and show the Dutch art of cartography and decoration at its highest pinnacle."*
The atlas was sent to Australia on 19 October 1939, as world war was again taking hold across Europe. The cost to Sir William included a war risk insurance of £1/10. Clearly the sea route was as dangerous in 1939 as it was in 1690, although the fear of sea monsters and unknown coastlines was most likely replaced by the fear of German submarines. The atlas arrived safely at Sir William’s home in Killara, the invoice settled by cash in hand according to the records.
Footnotes
* Letter from Francis Edwards Ltd to Sir William Dixson, 30 August 1939
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