1625 Americae sive Indiae Occidentalis Tabula Generalis

By: Joannes De Laet Date: 1625 (Published) Amsterdam Dimensions: 10.75 x 14 inches (27.3 cm x 35.6 cm) This authentic antique map in Dutch is by cartographer Joannes de Laet. Published in 1625, this map provides a fine outline of America as it was known to the Dutch at the beginning of the 17th century. An interesting feature of the map is that though De Laet had seen maps of California as an island, he used accounts he considered more reliable, such as Herrera, and depicted it in peninsular form The map has the best west coast delineation to that date. He avoids speculating about unknown polar regions and omits detail regarding cartography of the Northwest Passage. Johannes De Laet was important in the founding of New Netherlands, and was a director of the Dutch West India Company, which sponsored its settlement. He owned a large tract of land in upstate New York, near Albany, and therefore had access to surveys and information from Dutch colonists, thus enhancing his ability to prod