Pas-kaart Van de Zee-Kusten van Brazilia...

This superb Van Keulen sea chart features the coast of Brazil starting just north of the estuary of the São Francisco River, and continuing down the coast to the estuary of the Ponica River. Numerous estuaries are found along the coast, including that of the Vaza-Barris River, which is only 280 miles long but whose drainage basin is 5,600 square miles. At its mouth is the city of São Cristóvão. Founded in 1590, it is the fourth oldest European settlement in Brazil. The city is noted for its historic city square, São Francisco Square, and numerous early colonial-period buildings.  Salvador, noted for its splendid beaches is also in this region of the country. The many estuaries depicted illustrate the relative ease with which early explorers could go inland from the Atlantic. Shoals along the coast are delineated.

Numerous settlements are depicted, as are fortresses and one silver mine called (at that time) Tapiana. The borders of the map are graduated for latitude, and bar scales are in Dutch miles, Spanish miles and English and French miles (actually leagues). An elaborate decorative title cartouche featuring indigenous peoples and wildlife, frigates at full sail, a lovely compass rose and a vignette featuring Poseidon and an allegorical figure based on Triton all embellish the map.

From: De Nieuwe Groote Lichtende Zee-Fakkel, ... Amsterdam, J. van Keulen, 1697-1709.

Johannes van Keulen (1654-1711) was a Dutch publisher. He was said to have produced âthe largest and finest marine atlases in Holland.â (Koeman) He received a privelege from the States General of Holland and West Friesland in order to printe maritame atlases and shipping guides. The privilege was to protect his printed material from illegal reproduction. He named his printing firm, In de Gekroonde Lootsman, which grew to be one of the most successful Amsterdam publishing firms. He collaborated with other cartographers including Claes Janszoon Vooght and Johannes van Luyken. --- Keulen's first atlas, entitled "Zee Atlas", contained only 40 charts. By 1695 his atlas would have 160 charts. His son, Gerard, took over publication in 1704 and expanded the atlas to 185 charts by 1709. --- Gerard van Keulen (1678-1727) was a skilled engraver, mathematician, and chart-maker. He was appointed Hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company in 1714. The van Keulen publishing firm operated continuously from 1678 to 1885 with three generations of the family active in the firm.

Bibliografia

Koeman - Keu (152).