Search:

Antique maps > world and polar regions > Antique world map by P. Van den Keere (Kaerius).

*** Exceptional Rare and Decorative World Map ***

Nova totius terrarum orbis geographica ac hydrographica tabula. - Kaerius (Van den Keere) P., 1632.



One of the most dramatic folio world maps from the Dutch "Cartes-à-figures" period.

This is the fourth state of Van den Keere's second folio-size map of the world on Mercator's projection. It is a handsome well-balanced map, finely engraved and visually appealing, with many striking decorations. The title runs along the top edge, and the imprint is within a simple cartouche in the upper right corner.
Three large decorative elements appear on the map itself. The interior of North America is occupied by a large cartouche surrounded by portraits of nine cartographers, explorers and world circumnavigators: Ptolemy, Columbus, Vespucci, Magellan, Drake, and Cavendish, along with three Dutchmen, Van Noort, Van Spilbergen, and Le Maire. The legend in the cartouche refers to their voyages. The bottom corners show the Temptation and the Expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Van den Keere copied these panels from Visscher's 1614 world map.
Decorative borders frame the map on all sides. The top border presents in niches eight sovereigns on horseback. Along the bottom border ten pairs of costumed figures are shown, while the two side borders each present ten town views in oval frames. These town views as well as the costumed figures are all copied faithfully from Claes Jansz Visscher's 1614 world map. The geographical content is generally up-to-date. Van den Keere shows Jacob le Maire's route (1615-17) in the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific, together with the results of this voyage as they relate to the southern tip of South America and the Pacific; New Guinea, however, still has the old shape. The drawing of the unknown Southland (MAGALLANICA), together with its extensive legends, is copied from Van den Keere's earlier map of 1608. On the northeast coast of North America are references to John Davis's voyages of 1585-87 and to the Amsterdam expedition of 1613. Furthermore, the results of Henry Hudson's fourth voyage (1610-11), made public for the first time by Hessel Gerritsz's 1612 map, are also included. Van den Keere probably took this information from Willem Jansz Blaeu's double-hemisphere 1619 wall map of the world. The presentation of the Arctic areas in the north-eastern part of Canada is unusual in some respects. The Dutch voyages (1594-96) in search of a north-east passage are mentioned, and the results of Willem Barentz's voyage to Bear Island (Tverre Eylandt) and Spitsbergen (Nieulandt) are presented next to the imaginary representations of the English predecessors. The drawing of Novaya Zemlya as a peninsula, showing the Kara Sea as an inland sea, is a very striking feature. A legend expresses the mapmaker's uncertainty about the delineation of this part of Asia. (Schilder)

This map first appeared in 1622. Following the death of his first wife, Van den Keere was forced to sell numbers of map plates. This map passed to Dirck Evertsen Lons, who reprinted it in the same year. Subsequently the plates passed to Janssonius who reprinted it in 1626 and 1632, as here.

In total 4 states, Schilder quotes 2 copies of the first state (1 complete), 2 of the second (both without borders), 6 of the third and 5 of the fourth state.

Copper engraving
Size: 46 x 56cm (17.8 x 21.8 inches)
Verso: Blank
Condition: Some wear to folds; bottom margin, folds and two small tears at bottom centre reinforced.
References: Shirley (World), 309; Schilder 6.4.

From: Separate publication.

Add to shoppingcart


Item number: 23885
(P.O.R.)

Question about this map

Photogallery