[Spice Islands] Indiae Orientalis Insularumque Adiacientium Typus

Copper engraved map, from Ortelius’ ‘Theatrum Orbis Terrarum’, hand coloured, strap work title cartouche, heraldic crest of Portugal, ocean stippled and embellished with mermaids, sea monsters and ships, central vertical fold, good margins, French text on verso, overall size 405 x 550mm, Antwerp, 1572

An attractive example of Ortelius’ map covering the Malay Archipelago, Persia, India, China, Japan, the coast of New Guinea, and the coast of North America. The highly decorative map features two mermaids unconcerned about a nearby sea monster wrecking a ship, based on Diego Guiterrez’s map of America. However, the geography of the map has particular importance to Europeans of the 16th century. These islands, known as the Spice Islands, were the source of the rapidly expanding spice trade and a huge source of financial profit. An inscription near the Moluccas explains, “Of the famous Moluccas islands there are next to Gilolo five, exporting all over the world a great abundance of fragrant spices, namely Tarenate, Tidore, Motir, Machia and Bachia.”

Another inscription on an enlarged New Guinea reads “New Guinea, which seems to be called Piccinaculus land by Andreas Corsalis. Whether this is an island or part of the South Land is uncertain.” The existence of a large island was presumed on the assumption that the hemispheres needed to be balanced. This assumption is what drove many explorers and geographers until the end of the 18th century.

Sumatra and Java are shown as oversized, but the Philippines is incomplete, lacking the Island of Luzon. A small amount of the West Coast of America is shown, with only three coastal cities named; Tiguex, Cicvie and the mythical Quivira. Although mostly unknown, this coast is based on Mercators world map of 1569, the most complete understanding to date.

This map is a splendid example of the combination of aesthetics and accurate cartography Ortelius is famous for. An interesting and important map.

Keoman: Ort. 4 No.48