Insulae Philippinae

Description

hand-coloured copper engraving. text verso: [chapter] Descriptio Moluccarum inss.

EXTREMELY RARE map from author Barent Langenes/Cornelis Claesz’ ‘Caert Thresoor’ (Miniature World Atlas), latin edition.

The page shows the chapter title “DESCRIPTIO PHILIPPINARUM”, pp. 523 & verso p. 524;

THIS IS THE FIRST MAP SOLELY SHOWING THE PHILIPPINES (1598). Essentially taken from Plancius’ “spice map” “Insulae Moluccae …” of 1592, and van Linschoten’s “Exacta & accurata delineatio cum oranum maritimarum…” of 1595. Kaerius (Pieter van den Keere) was one of many refugees who fled from religious persecution in the Low Countries (Netherlands, etc.) between 1570-1590. He moved to London with his sister, who married Jodocus Hondius, the famous cartographer, from whom Kaerius must have learned his skills as an engraver & cartographer.