
This is a significant map. Mainly because it was leaps and bounds ahead of the other maps of India from that time-frame. There is incredible detail, names of the city are mostly correct, their placement is right and the soundings are pretty accurate as well.
Another reason why this map of special interest to me is because Linschoten acquired all of his information while serving as the secretary to Portuguese archbishop in Goa from 1583-1589.
Of particular value were the sailing guides he obtained that not only provided the best sailing routes to the East Indies and its lucrative spice trade but also showed the way from port to port once there.
Upon his return to the Netherlands, Linschoten published these documents with accompanying maps and his own descriptions of the area in his monumental Itinerario. Few books have had greater influence on historical events.
Linschoten’s maps are styled after Portuguese portolan charts of the 16th Century, upon which the map is based. Even in printed form, these maps retain the lush decorative flourishes of their sources.
I remember bidding on this map a while ago. But it was the darn euro-dollar conversion that made my bid kind of low. Expectation was that Euro would be about one US $, but at that time it was 1.6 or higher.
Any way, I have this map in my peripharal vision. I would have preferred it it was map of just India and not all of middle east, but because of the significance of this map, I’d like to get it.
Jan Huygen Van Linschoten: Deliniantur in hac tabula, Orae maritimae Abexiae, freti Mecani: al. Maris Rubri: Arabiae Freti Mecani: al Maris Rubri: Arabiae, Ormi, Persiae, Supra Sindam usque . . .
Title: Deliniantur in hac tabula, Orae maritimae Abexiae, freti Mecani: al. Maris Rubri: Arabiae Freti Mecani: al Maris Rubri: Arabiae, Ormi, Persiae, Supra Sindam usque . . .
Map Maker: Jan Huygen Van Linschoten
Place / Date: Amsterdam / 1596
Coloring: Hand Colored
Size: 20.5 x 15 inches
Condition: VG
Here is the map in its full glory. Click to embiggen.

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