Americae Nova Tabula
Blaeu's map shows Tierra del Fuego at the tip of South America as an island, although the rare first state of the map issued in 1617 had shown it attached to a southern landmass labeled "Terra Australis Incognita". A Dutch expedition under Willem Cornelisz Schouten and Jacob le Maire had just circumnavigated the world in 1615-1616 and had discovered a new passage (Strait of Le Maire, shown on the map as Fretum le Maire) south of Magellan's strait, which proved that Tierra del Fuego was an island. This expedition was funded by the Australian Company, a short-lived Dutch rival to the VOC. Lawsuits between this company and the VOC had prevented Blaeu, who was sworn to secrecy, from incorporating the information on his 1617 map.
In several cases, the decorative illustrations on and around the map also relate to chartered companies. Early Dutch expeditions sent by precursor companies of the VOC frequented Mocha Island off the coast of Chile and Olinda in Pernambuco, Brazil, seen in a couple of the vignettes at the upper left. By the 1630s the WIC effectively controlled some of these areas, if only temporarily. Throughout the map itself a number of East India merchantmen fly the Dutch tri-color. A simplified version of the Cross of Burgundy flag used by the Spanish as a naval ensign, for overseas territories, and as a battle flag signifies rival vessels.Relevante Bilder
Relevante Artikel
Willem BlaeuWillem Janszoon Blaeu war ein niederländischer Kartograf und Verleger. .. weiterlesen