Antique Map Australasia by Lapie (1809)

Description: Antique print titled ‘Fringilla, Spinus'. This print depicts the Eurasian Siskin with nest and eggs (Dutch: Sijs). The Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus) is a small passerine bird in the finch family Fringillidae. It is also called the European siskin, common siskin or just siskin. Other (archaic) names include black-headed goldfinch, barley bird and aberdevine.It is very common throughout Europe and Asia. It is found in forested areas, both coniferous and mixed woodland where it feeds on seeds of all kinds, especially of alder and conifers.

This print originates from 'Nederlandsche Vogelen; volgens hunne huisdouding, aert, en eigenschappen beschreeven', Amsterdam, 1770-1829 by C. Nozeman, M. Houttuyn and J.C. Sepp. This is the most important and first study in the Netherlands of ornithology at that time. The birds are depicted as they are in life, said to be depicted close to life sized and in their environment.

Original text page included. 

Artists and engravers: This monumental work is associated with Christiaan Andreas Sepp, Jan Christiaan Sepp, Jan Sepp, Cornelis Nozeman, Martinus Houttuyn and Coenraad Jacob Temminck.

• Date: 1789
• Overall size: 37 x 53 cm.
• Image size: 27.5 x 41.3 cm.
• Condition: Very good. General age-related toning. Please study image carefully.

Description: Antique map titled 'India quae Orientalis dicitur et Insulae Adiacentes'. Beautiful map of Southeast Asia, extending from India to Tibet to Japan to New Guinea. It was the first popular map to depict part of Australia. Includes a dedicational cartouche to Laurens Real.

Artists and Engravers: Willem Janszoon Blaeu (1571-1638) was a prominent Dutch geographer and publisher. Born the son of a herring merchant, Blaeu chose not fish but mathematics and astronomy for his focus. He studied with the famous Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, with whom he honed his instrument and globe making skills. Blaeu set up shop in Amsterdam, where he sold instruments and globes, published maps, and edited the works of intellectuals like Descartes and Hugo Grotius. In 1635, he released his atlas, Theatrum Orbis Terrarum, sive, Atlas novus. Willem died in 1638. He had two sons, Cornelis (1610-1648) and Joan (1596-1673). Joan trained as a lawyer, but joined his father’s business rather than practice. After his father’s death, the brothers took over their father’s shop and Joan took on his work as hydrographer to the Dutch East India Company. Later in life, Joan would modify and greatly expand his father’s Atlas novus, eventually releasing his masterpiece, the Atlas maior, between 1662 and 1672.

• Date: c.1640
• Overall size: 60 x 49.5 cm.
• Image size: 50.5 x 41 cm.
• Condition: Good, general age-related toning. Repair on folding line and repaired tear near Borneo. Few stains, mainly in margins. Dutch text on verso, please study image carefully.

Description: Antique print titled 'Süd-Asiatische Thiere'. Engraving of various animals of Southeast Asia including the tailor bird, cockatoo, a goose, hornbill, bird of paradise, a bengal tiger and a leopard species. Source unknown, to be determined. 

Artists and Engravers: Anonymous.

• Date: c.1860
• Overall size: 19 x 25 cm.
• Image size: 18 x 23 cm.
• Condition: Good, general age-related toning. Some wear and soiling, blank verso. Please study image carefully.