This double-hemisphere world map by the Amsterdam engraver

Acquired From: Leen Helmink

Colouring: Coloured

Condition: Excellent

Date Acquired: Nov 2025

Description: This double-hemisphere world map by the Amsterdam engraver Jan van Jagen presents the world in eastern and western hemispheres, accompanied by two smaller inset spheres depicting the polus arcticus (upper centre) and the polus antarcticus (lower centre). The map includes the engravers imprint, sculps. et dir., placed at the lower left centre near the lion, identifying van Jagen as both designer and engraver of the plate. The predominance of Dutch place names and Dutch text on the verso indicates that the map was produced for a Dutch-language geographical atlas rather than for separate issue.nThe depiction of Australia (Nieuw Holland) reflects the major coastal discoveries made by Dutch navigators in the seventeenth century, with the western, northern, and parts of the southern coastline delineated, while the interior is left blank in keeping with early eighteenth-century European knowledge.The hemispheres are enclosed within a finely engraved allegorical framework featuring full personifications of the four known continents: Europe in the upper left corner, Asia in the upper right corner, South America in the lower right corner, and Africa in the lower left corner.

Engraver: Jagen, Jan van (1709-1800)

First published: Amsterdam, ca 17201750

Image Size (cm): 44.5×30.5

Mapmaker: Jagen, Jan van (1709-1800)

Primary Category: World

Sheet size (cm): 47.5×35.5

Technique: Copper Engraving