Carte Particuliere de L'Isle D'Amboine / Byzondere Kaart van Het Eyland Amboina

An attractive mid-18th century map of the island of Ambon in the Moluccas Sulawesi (Celebes), showing topographical details, mostly elevations, on Amboine, an island off the southwest coast of Ceram, lying north of the Banda Sea and south of the Molucca islands between Indonesia and New Guinea. 

The map indicates harbors and small settlements around the coast, and Chateau Victoria a large building on the shore of Lemy Timor. This map has been drawn on the basis of a chart included in 'Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indiën' by François Valentyn.

French title cartouche 'Carte Particuliere de L'Isle D'Amboine' and a Dutch title is showed at the bottom 'Byzondere Kaart van Het Eyland Amboina'. 

The Maluku Islands were the only source of nutmeg and cloves in the world for many centuries and its true location was a closely kept secret by traders who knew of them. European exploration of Southeast Asia was motivated by the desire to find these islands and have monopolies of their own.

 

 

 

Jacques Nicolas Bellin
Title
Ambon Island, Moluccas
Publication Place / Date
Image Dimensions
Amsterdam / 1770
235 x 330 mm.
Color
Condition
Hand coloring
VG
Product Price
Product Number
USD 175
SKU #M.0087