Cornelis Wytfliet
Caribbean and Nothern South America, 1597 c
9 x 11 in
23 x 28 cm
23 x 28 cm
WIND4374
Residuum Continentis cum adiacentibus Insulis Early and important map of the Caribbean Islands and northern South America. This rare and significant map was part of Cornelis Wytfliet's 'Augmentum' or 'Additions'...
Residuum Continentis cum adiacentibus Insulis
Early and important map of the Caribbean Islands and northern South America.
This rare and significant map was part of Cornelis Wytfliet's "Augmentum" or "Additions" to Ptolemy, regarded as the first atlas focusing on the New World. It covers the Caribbean Islands from Puerto Rico, here called "Borichen" to the South American coast which shows modern Venezuela. Early names shown on the map include the Virgin Islands, Barbados, Antigua, Curacao and St. Vincent among others. Far to the east, is another mysterious island, called "Fonsequa sive Sancti Bernardi Insula", a mythical island of St. Bernard. It is in the shape of a cross.
Little is know about Cornelis Wytfliet. He was an advocate and Secretary to the Council of Brabant; therefore, in a powerful position and had access to scholarly material. However, it has proved difficult to find his source maps. The distinctive shape of Puerto Rico in particular seems to have originated on this map.
Wytfliet's work was highly influential and used an early source for many cartographers who followed him. [WIND4374]
Early and important map of the Caribbean Islands and northern South America.
This rare and significant map was part of Cornelis Wytfliet's "Augmentum" or "Additions" to Ptolemy, regarded as the first atlas focusing on the New World. It covers the Caribbean Islands from Puerto Rico, here called "Borichen" to the South American coast which shows modern Venezuela. Early names shown on the map include the Virgin Islands, Barbados, Antigua, Curacao and St. Vincent among others. Far to the east, is another mysterious island, called "Fonsequa sive Sancti Bernardi Insula", a mythical island of St. Bernard. It is in the shape of a cross.
Little is know about Cornelis Wytfliet. He was an advocate and Secretary to the Council of Brabant; therefore, in a powerful position and had access to scholarly material. However, it has proved difficult to find his source maps. The distinctive shape of Puerto Rico in particular seems to have originated on this map.
Wytfliet's work was highly influential and used an early source for many cartographers who followed him. [WIND4374]
