Ooster Deel der Middelantse Zee Nieulyex Beschreven by Iacob Colom

Nautical chart of the eastern part of the map of the Mediterranean; editorial imprint followed by date: Nieulyx Beschreven door Iacob Colom 1656.

Jacob Aertsz Colom's two-sheet chart of the Mediterranean, first appeared in the Portuguese-language edition (1669) of theAtlas of Werelts-Water-Deel, En desself's Zee-custen (the first Dutch edition had appeared in 1663). The engraved title page of this edition reads: Atlas Maritimo O Mundo Aquatico, O qual Conteim hua breve Descripsao De todas as conoçidas Costas Maritimas Da Terra. Novamenta Sacado a luz, Por Arnold Colom, Insignia da Colonna Ardente. It seems then, as Koeman already notes, that this Portuguese edition is the result of the collaboration between Jacob and his son Arnold. The work represents the most complete edition of the Atlas of Werelts-Water-Deel and contemplates 52 nautical charts, mostly taken from Colom's other nautical guides, the VyerigheColom and the Groote Lichtende Ofte Vijerighe Colom; however, seven new nautical plates are added, including this two-sheet chart of the Mediterranean. The western part of the chart includes nautical plans of Bona, Zaragoza, Baia de Agde, P. Farina, Sufa, the southern coast of Sardinia, Alcol, and Alzyra. Four additional cartouches contain the names of the islands of the African coast, Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Balearic Islands and the other minor Italian islands. There are three cartouches in the western map, containing details--out of scale--of the Adriatic Sea, the Malvasia area in Morea, and the Gulf of Constantinople. Two additional boxes contain the list of islands in the Adriatic and Aegean Seas (see S. Bifolco, ‘Mare Nostrum, Printed Nautical Cartography of the Mediterranean Sea’ (2020), pp. 132).

Jacob Aertsz. Colom entered the map market during the golden age of Dutch cartography and had to work hard to stand out among other map makers of the time. He began making globes in the early 1630s, producing three different pairs of spheres, derived from Jodocus Hondius. While the great printing presses of Blaeu and Janssonius were competing to publish ever larger and more lavish atlases, Colom seized the opportunity to enter the map-making market, identifying nautical guides and pilot books as a commercially viable niche. His first nautical atlas was De Vyerighe Colom (1632) a large 3-part collection whose title-paraphrasing his own surname-meant “the fiery column.” In the text he provocatively announced that he was correcting the errors found in Blaeu's Zeespiegel who, in response, retorted by publishing his Havenwyser (1634) in which he accused Colom of plagiarism. However, Blaeu's collection, a hasty retort with maps taken from other earlier works, failed to curb Colom's success; De Vyerighr Colom 's was translated into French and English and went through no fewer than 34 editions. Colom also produced an oblong version of De Vyerighr Colom, enlarged, before trying his hand at an entirely new work: theAtlas of Werelts-Water-Deel. Unlike his guidebook, this nautical atlas covered the entire world; it was evidently a commercial response to other Dutch map makers.

Magnificent proof, printed on laid paper and colored in outlines, slight oxidation, overall in very good condition.

Work of great rarity.

Bibliografia

S. Bifolco, "Mare Nostrum, Cartografia nautica a stampa del Mar Mediterraneo" (2020), pp. 132-35, tav. 54; Jason Hubbard, Atlas Maritimo o Mundo Aquatico, 1668 by Jacob Aertz. Colom, in “Map Forum”, Issue 12, Londra 2005; C. Koeman, Atlantes Neerlandici: Bibliography of Terrestrial, Maritime and Celestial Atlases and Pilot Books Published in the Netherlands up to 1880 Vol. IV, pp. 119-124, J. Col 6 A (29, 30); cfr. National Maritime Museum, Catalogue of the Library - Vol. Three, Atlas & Cartography, Londra, 1971, p. 68, n. 76; cfr. R. Shirley, Maps in the Atlases of the British Library, Londra, 2004, pp. 1080-1082.