EUROPE, c1627

By Petrus Bertius

This reproduction is taken from an original document, held within the Archives of the UK Hydrographic Office, Taunton, Somerset

The Low Countries produced in some respects the greatest map-makers of the world, for roughly a century between 1570 and 1670. The centres of production, at first in Antwerp and Duisburg, soon shifted to Amsterdam. For accuracy according to the knowledge of their time, magnificence of presentation and richness of decoration, the Dutch and Flemish maps and charts of this period have never been surpassed. Pieter Bert, better known as Petrus Bertius, was a Flemish geographer who published a great deal of work in the early to mid seventeenth century. As was common with most cartographic publishers of his day he produced work in both Latin and Dutch, but also had his maps translated into all the important European languages.

This map of Europe is very typical of the style that prevailed in the early 17th century. The representation of sailing ships, fantastic creatures and animals, are common decorative themes on maps and charts of this era. The large island of Frislande lying between Iceland and Greenland makes many appearances on 16th and 17th century maps, but unfortunately does not exist.