Nieuwe wassende graaden paskaart vertoonende alle de bekende zeekusten en landen op den geheelen aard boodem of werelt (ID 512 Mapping the World)

The Van Keulen family was renowned for their significant contributions to mapmaking and atlas publishing.

Their firm,In de Gekroonde Lootsman (In the Crowned Pilot), was established in 1678 by Johannes van Keulen I.

In 1680, two years after establishing the business, Johannes secured exclusive rights from the Dutch government to publish sea atlases and pilot guides.

That same year, he released De groote nieuwe vermeerderde zee atlas ofte water-werelt, (Great New Enlarged Sea Atlas of the Water World), commonly known as Zee Atlas.

The following year, he introduced the first two volumes of De Nieuwe lichtende Zee-fakkel (New Shining Sea Torch), often referred to as Zee fakkel.

Over the next four years, three more volumes were added to this pilot book series.

In 1714, a year before Johannes’s death, his son, Gerard took over the business, continuing to update and reissue his father’s works until his own passing in 1726.

The first volume of the 1728 edition of Zee-fakkelincluded this world map based on the Mercator projection.

According to Rodney Shirley, this edition was updated from the earlier 1682 state and features the phrase Met Privilege voor 15 Iaren (With Privilege for 15 Years) in the title.

The map includes several key features, including references to Het Compagnies Land (the Company’s Land) and Dutch East Indiamen prominently depicted sailing across the seas.

It also shows the known extent of Hollandia Nova (today’s Australia), documenting landfalls made by

various Dutch explorers:

• Dirk Hartog (1616): The first European known to have set foot on the

western coast of Australia, naming it "'t Landt van Eendracht" (Land of Eendracht).

• Frederick

de Houtman (1619): Conducted further explorations along the west coast.

• The Leeuwin (1622): A

Dutch ship whose name was given to the southwestern cape of Australia, now known as Cape Leeuwin.

• Jan Carstensz.and Willem Joosten van Colster (1623): Explored northern Australia,

including Cape York and Arnhem Land.

• Pieter Nuyts (1627): Mapped parts of the southern coast

of Australia, known for his journey on the 't Gulden Zeepaert (Golden Seahorse).

• Gerrit

Frederiksz. de Witt (1628): His discoveries contributed to mapping part of the Australian coastline, leading to the designation "G.F. de Wits Land."

• Abel Tasman (1644): Famous for his

voyages that resulted in the mapping of Tasmania (originally named Van Diemen's Land) and parts of New Zealand.

The chart incorporated Tasman’s discoveries, designating Australia as “Hollandia Nova”.

In the map’s top left corner, van Keulen an allegorical scene featuring Europe receiving tributes from the other continents.

Asia, distinguished by an incense censer at her feet, carries a crescent scepter symbolizing Islam and offers Europe a casket of jewels.

Africa and America, accompanied by a snake and a lion, present ivory, silver, and other trade goods.

Europe, seated at a table reading—symbolizing wisdom and knowledge—wears an imperial crown and is accompanied by a lyre at her feet, representing the arts.

A servant beside her upholds the Christian religion, depicted as the “true church,” while a white warhorse in the background underscores European supremacy in warfare.

At the bottom of the map, the cartouche features Poseidon wielding his trident, flanked by two sea nymphs, reinforcing the maritime theme.