The first and most desirable maps of Singapore, lacking in all collections.

North is on the left. Sinca Pura is in the center of the map, below it is Cust onbekent (Unknown coast).Valsch Sinca Pora (False Singapore) in the lower right. Oudt Ior (Old Johor) is at the top of the map, with Rio Batasubar (Johor River) leading up to it. Bintam (Batam} in the upper right. Below the large compass rose is Carimon (Karimunbesar Island), below that the entrance of Straet van Sinca Pora (Singapore Strait) is marked. The strait is filled with depth soundings and shoals/sand banks, as well as cliffs along the coasts.

1603 saw three major battles between the VOC and the Portuguese fleets. On February 25th the Dutch under Jacob van Heemskerck had captured the Santa Catharina here, the largest and most valuable prize ever taken by the VOC, the carrack and its cargo auctioned for over two million guilders in Amsterdam, significantly helping to fund the early VOC. A second sea battle took place in June, 1603. Shown here is the third and final sea battle of October 6-11 1603, giving the Dutch a decisive victory over the Portuguese and tipping thew balance of power in the region. The battle is also referred to as the Battle of Changi.

The elaborate text legend refers to the events in the battle and translates as follows:

REPRESENTATION OF THE SKIRMISH
when the Dutch fought the Portuguese in the river Bahusabar

A. is the Dutch Vice Admiral named Zirixcze

B. is the Dutch ship Zaun from Enkhuizen

C. the yacht from Amsterdam

D. is the large ship of the Portuguese

E. is the smaller one

F. are their galleys

G. are junks from Johor which came to pursue the skirmish

H. is again the Vice Admiral Zirixcze, as he at another time fought outside the river with another

I. is the Dutch ship Zaun

K. the yacht

L. is against the largest Portuguese ship

M. the small one

N. are the galleys in which the mighty king of Johor had been

O. are the galleys and junks of the Portuguese who fled

The map is of utmost rarity.

This is the first map of Singapore. It is also of importance because it illustrates the rise of power of the Dutch East India Company in the region, at the expense of the Portuguese Empire.

No restorations or imperfections. Excellent condition. A gorgeous example of a seminal map of the area.

De Bry was an engraver, bookseller and publisher, active in Frankfurt-am-Main, who is known to have engraved a number of charts in Waghenaer’s The Mariners Mirrour published in London in 1588. In that same year, also in London, an account was published by Thomas Hariot, illustrated by the artist John White, describing Raleigh's abortive attempt to found a colony in Virginia, and this was to be the inspiration for de Bry's major work, the series of Grands Voyages and Petits Voyages. In all, 54 parts of these two works were issued containing very fine illustrations and beautiful, and now very rare, maps, much sought after by collectors.

(Moreland and Bannister)

Old books, maps and prints by Theodore de Bry