Map of the World Nova Totius Terrarium Orbis Tabula by Gerardus van Schagen & Frederic de Wit, 1689 art print poster canvas gift

Map of the World Nova Totius Terrarium Orbis Tabula, copper plate engraved and hand coloured by Gerardus van Schagen in 1689; based upon Frederick De Wit's first world map of 1668. The geographical details include California as an island, incomplete coastlines for Australia and New Zealand and no trace of the Antarctic. It is also lacks the coastline north of California. Great lakes remain open to the West. The map has four large lively allegorical scenes representing the four elements. Fire is shown by war and destruction, air by the heavens, earth by harvesting and husbandry, and water by sailing ships and a spouting whale.

Frederick de Wit was born Frederick Hendricksz or Frederick son of Hendrick. He was born to a Protestant family in 1629/30 in Gouda, a small city in the province of Holland. His father Hendrick was a knife handle maker from Amsterdam and his mother Neeltij Joosten was the daughter of a merchant in Gouda. By 1648, during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, De Wit had moved from Gouda to Amsterdam. As early as 1654 he had opened a printing office and shop under the name “De Drie Crabben” (the Three Crabs) which was also the name of his house on the Kalverstraat. In 1655, De Wit changed the name of his shop to the “Witte Pascaert” (the White Chart). Under this name De Wit and his firm became internationally known. His first world maps, "Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula Auctore F. de Wit." (approx. 43 x 55 cm) and Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula (a wall map approx. 140 x 190 cm) appeared around 1660. De Wit published no fewer than 158 land maps and 43 charts on separate folio sheets. The maps by Frederick de Wit are highly decorative and highly prized both by museums and private collectors.

Gerardus van Schagen (ca. 1642 – March 1724) was an engraver and cartographer from Amsterdam, known for his exquisite interpretations of earlier maps, particularly of those by Nicolaes Visscher I and Frederick de Wit.

This poster is a high quality "giclee" reproduction of a restored antique original, custom-printed on Standard Single-weight Matt Coated art paper 140gsm or  Heavyweight Matt Coated art paper 230gsm (more of a thin card density), or superb Epson Matt Canvas 320gsm, according to your choice. We use the latest UltraChromeHDX pigment inks which guarantee 60 years of colour  permanence (up to 200 years fade-proof for colour prints).  This poster is suitable for mounting and framing, as well as direct display on a wall.