1761 Nouvelle Carte De l'Isle De Java…

Nouvelle Carte De l'Isle De Java Dressee suivant les Observations les plus récentes faites par ordre de la Comp. Holl. des Indes Orientales This is a lovely map of the island of Java with parts of Sumatra, Madura, and Bali by Jacques Nicolas Bellin. According to its title, it depicts the most recent discoveries and observations of the region in Bellin’s time. The map was ordered by the Dutch East India Company, thus the map’s name below the image is in Dutch, while the title in the decorative cartouche is in French. The map is highly detailed, with pictorial representation of topography along with written descriptions. Toponyms name cities, ports, bays and all the provinces into which Java was divided at the time. Depth soundings are provided for all shorelines of each island. A compass rose from which rhumb lines radiate indicates that the map is oriented north. The Dutch East India Company was founded in 1602 to help the Dutch in their war with Spain, and to organize and control to