Dutch chart of the Banda Islands Maluku, comprising the important Spice Islands. Until the mid-19th century the Banda Islands were the world’s only source of the spices nutmeg and mace, produced from the nutmeg tree. The map shows the plantations, Dutch forts and an erupting volcano.

Extremely rare in this edition. This plate originates from the very scarse: 'La galerie agreable du monde (...). Tome premier des Indes Orientales.', published by P. van der Aa, Leyden, c. 1725. This famous work was published in 66 parts and is the biggest print / map book ever published. Van der Aa incorporated plates by other publishers such as Blaeu, Visscher, de Wit, meurs, Halma, Mortier, Allard in this work and often added broad decorative borders. 

Probably the costliest and complete universal geographic work ever produced. It is said that only 100 copies were printed. ( Ref: Koeman Aa9; Phillips 2780 note. ) 

Artists and Engravers: Pieter van der Aa (Leiden 1659-1733) was a Dutch publisher best known for preparing maps and atlases. The Galerie Agreable contains plates and maps by the best Dutch engravers: Luiken, Goeree, Mulder, Stoopendaal, ao.