Southeast Asia: Insulae Indiae Orientalis Praecipuae, In quibus Moluccae celeberrime sunt, or 'The principal islands of the East Indies, of which the most famous are the Moluccas'. Jodocus Hondius, Amsterdam, 1606

A highly decorative map of the East Indies from the Mercator-Hondius Atlas.

It extends from the Philippines to Timor and Sumatra to New Guinea, detailing the Spice Islands, a region of great importance to seventeenth century Europe, but one about which little was known at the time. Hondius based his map on portolan charts by Portuguese cartographer Bartolomeu Lasso. Of particular note is the comment Huc Franciscus Dra. Appulit, which appears by the unknown southern coast of Java, representing Drake's landing during his circumnavigation of the globe in 1577-80.

Of considerable contemporary relevance, the map also shows a highly stylised diagram of the Spratly Islands and perhaps the Paracels in the South China Sea, indicating ownership lying with Vietnam and Indochina, not - as vociferously claimed by the People's Republic - with China.

This map follows very shortly the extension of Dutch control over the islands. In 1602 the Dutch East India Company was formed, and within a couple decades the company came to control the region. Includes three strapwork cartouches, and European ships shown in the midst of battle. Other decorative features include two compass roses, rhumb lines and sea monster.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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Pictures From History