Original copper-engraved town plan of the city of Batavia on the island of Java captioned within a decorative cartouche in old Dutch: "Waere affbeeldinge Wegens het Casteel ende Stadt Batavia gelegen opt groot Eylant Java Anno 1681".

This is a rare or used book from the Berkelouw Rare Books Department.

A magnificent town view of Batavia (present-day Jakarta on Java Indonesia) depicting a neatly delineated town including Batavia Castle with a printed key to the principal buildings; the characteristically Dutch network of canals with the Groote River at the centre; sailing vessels at anchor along the coast; a panorama of the town along the lower edge; and the Dutch lion wielding a sword and shield at the top right. The engraving measuring 40 x 50 cm is mounted and framed behind glass. Fine. Established in 1619 by Jan Pieterszoon Coen Dutch Batavia (formerly the city of Jayakarta) was the headquarters of the mighty Dutch East India Company (Verenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie or VOC) and the capital of the Dutch East Indies. It was a key trading port in the lucrative trade with Asia during the 17th and 18th centuries. A fine piece of cartographic history from the Age of European Discovery.