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Map of Surinam

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Map of Surinam

Ottens, Joachim

Title Leupe: Nieuwe Kaart van Suriname; vertonende de stromen en landstreken van Suriname, Commewini, Cottica en Marawini, gelegen in Zuid Amerika op de Custen van Caribana 6 gr. Benoorden de linie Equinoct enz.

The "New map of Surinam", which actually covers only the eastern part between the Surinam River and the Marowijne, was published between 1713 and 1718 by the Amsterdam engraver, printer and publisher Joachim Ottens.

It was the most popular overview of the colony before the publication of the general map by Alexander de Lavaux in 1737 (VEL1668). The map is sketchy compared to its more accurate successor as well as the various older manuscript maps from which Ottens borrowed a significant part of his cartographic data. Besides appearing as a loose-leaf publication, in 1718 his map was published as an appendix in J.D. Herlein’s famous general work Beschryvinge van de volksplantinge Zuriname (Description of the Colony of Surinam), which sets the upper limit of the dating. The lower limit of 1713 is determined by the recording (albeit in the wrong spot) of the fortified military post at the Parnassusberg upstream from Paramaribo, which was established in that year.

North is up.

Scale-bars of 7 German Miles 15 in a degree / 9 hours walking of 20 in a degree = [approximately 1 : 495,000].

Please contact Nationaal Archief for reuse and copyrights.

Sources and literature

Heijer, H. den, Grote Atlas van de West-Indische Compagnie = Comprehensive Atlas of the Dutch West India Company, II, de nieuwe WIC 1674-1791 = the new WIC 1674-1791 (2012)

Bubberman, F., Links with the past; the history of the cartography of Suriname 1500-1971