Stunning Maps of Java

Insulae Javae Pars Occidentalis Edente Hadriano Relando. Gerard van Keulen. 1728The very rare and much sought-after coloured sea charts of east and west Java by Gerard van Keulen from Part V of his 1728 edition of the Zee-Fakkel, the beautiful Dutch pilot-guide to navigation in the East Indies and the Malay Archipelago. The two charts which contained hundreds of depth soundings, were usually joined to make one map of the whole of Java. Part VI, an updated version of the Zee-Fakkel, was issued by Van Keulen in 1753 with 73 charts of Asian waters including the two charts of Java, but with the addition of a small inset chart of Batavia Roads on the western sheet and a coastal profile of Batavia and the Bogor Mountains from Batavia Roads.

This earlier version does not have the two insets, but does have a very attractive cartouche in the bottom left-hand corner showing local traders showing goods to ‘Leo Belgicus’, the proud symbol of Dutch independence and global trade. The lion symbol is derived from the representation of the 17 provinces of the Low Countries in the form of a map with the outline of a lion that was published by Claes Jansz Visscher in 1648, when the Spanish confirmed Dutch independence. In the later version, this cartouche is much smaller and is placed on top of the small chart of Batavia Roads. This chart is a very strong impression on thick paper and is in excellent condition, measuring 505 x 580 and 505 x 588 mm respectively.

Carte de L’Ile de Java: Partie Occidentale, Partie Orientale, Dressee Tout Nouvellement sur les Memoires les Plus Exacts. Abraham Chatelain. 1719

The much sought-after large-scale map of Java in excellent modern colour by the 18th century French cartographer, Abraham Chatelain (1684 - 1743) was published in Volume V of the Atlas Historique in 1719. The map, modelled on Hadrien Reland’s earlier map that was also the source for Gerard van Keulen’s chart of Java published in 1728 (below), was printed as two separate sheets labelled west (Occidentale) and east (Orientale) that are generally joined to make a complete map of the island. The map contains extensive notes on the history and geography of Java that are included within the borders of the map and along the margins. The map is in excellent condition and measures 358 x 800 mm.

Sea Chart or Map?

The Chatelain (left) is a map and the Van Keulen (below) is a sea chart. What’s the difference, you might ask?

As you can see, the Chatelain has historical and geographical detail surrounding Java and the Van Keulen does not. The oceans in the Van Keulen have many lines in them, which were used for navigating, which makes this a working sea chart.

Sea charts were once highly secret documents, never to be published, contrary to maps which were decorative and displayed in atlases. However, when the British began publishing theirs, the Dutch caught on, thus presenting the world with stunning sea charts like the one we present to you today. Which do you prefer?

By famous cartographers, don’t you know...

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