1715 Renard Map of the West Atlantic, New York to Guiana

A stunning example of the 1715 L. Renard edition of Frederick de Wit's map of the western Atlantic. The map illustrates the full scope of Dutch interest in the Americans, covering from Newfoundland to Brazil, including New York, New England, the eastern West Indies, and northeastern South America. By the time Renard reissued the map in 1715, the Dutch had long since surrendered control of New York to the British. Nonetheless, the longevity and popularity of this map among Dutch publisher is ample evidence of lingering ambitions to regain their American colonies.

A Closer Look

Oriented to the east, this map covers from Newfoundland south to modern-day Paraiba, Brazil, east as far as the Azores and Cape Verde Islands, and west as far as Hispaniola. Cartographically, this map is based upon the Theunis Jacobsz map of c. 1650.

All that is of interest to the Dutchman

When Jacobsz first laid out this unusual projection, it would have been both innovative and comprehensive - illustrating the full field of Dutch interests in the Americas. Jacobsz drew this based upon Blaeu's monumental 1630 West Indische Paskaert and focuses on those areas of greatest interest to the 17th-century Dutchman, the Dutch VOC colonies in Nieu-Nederland (New Amsterdam / New York City) and in Brazil (where the VOC was faring poorly in a war with Portugal over domination of the valuable sugar trade). The Canary Islands and the Azores have no doubt been included as the map's easternmost coverage because they are the traditional gateways to Europe. The Spanish-controlled territories to the west, in Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico, were of little comparative interest and thus were not included.

Finely Engraved Cartouches

The preset example is derived from an updated and revised edition of the Jacobsz map by Frederick de Wit. It exhibits de Wit's typical fine engraving and the addition of extraordinary cartouche work. The elaborate cartouches, of which there are two, illustrate the collision of European and native American empires and, in general, the surrender of indigenous American sovereignty and wealth to new European overlords. At sea, finely engraved ships ply the waves and engage in a naval battle.

Publication History

There are four known editions of the De Wit plate. The first, issued in 1675, has twenty-two at top right. The second, also 1675, names the seas as 'Mare Canada.' The third, 1715, is the present example, with De Wit's imprint replaced by L. Renard. The fourth state was issued in 1745, with the Renard imprint replaced by Ottens.