- Title: Paskaart vande Noord Cust van SCHOTLAND als mede de Eylanden van Hitlandt en Fero...
- Author: Johannes van Keulen II
- Date: c.1780
- Condition: Excellent - Later issue with somewhat weak impression. Margins have been trimmed top and bottom to fit in atlas.
- Inches: 23 1/8 x 20 1/8 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 58.73 x 51.11 [Paper]
- Product ID: 308709
This finely engraved sea chart of Scotland, issued by Johannes van Keulen in the late 17th century, is a striking example of Dutch maritime cartography. Rather than presenting Scotland as a terrestrial political map, it focuses on the surrounding coasts and offshore waters, with the mainland broken into large coastal segments and the northern islands—especially Orkney, Shetland, and the Faroes—carefully plotted for navigational use.
The sheet is built around an elegant rhumb-line network radiating from compass roses, a hallmark of nautical mapping that allowed mariners to follow courses across the North Atlantic with greater confidence. Coastal outline, islands, soundings, and place names are rendered in a precise but understated hand, emphasizing function over ornament while still maintaining the graceful craftsmanship for which the van Keulen family was known. The decorative title cartouche in the lower left adds a more pictorial element, balancing the chart’s practical purpose with the visual richness expected of high-quality Dutch sea atlases.
As a historical document, the map reflects the importance of Scotland’s maritime corridors in the age of sail, when accurate coastal charts were essential for trade, fishing, and naval movement. It also illustrates the Dutch Republic’s leading role in hydrographic publishing, with the van Keulen workshop producing some of the most respected sea atlases of the period.
The Dominance of van Keulen Chartmaking
The van Keulen family played a crucial role in Dutch maritime cartography, particularly through their relationship with the Dutch East India Company (VOC). This connection spanned several generations and significantly influenced the development of nautical charts and atlases.
The Nieuwe Lichtende Zee-Fakkel (New Shining Sea Torch) atlas series by the van Keulen family included charts of various regions. The Zee-Fakkel was first published in 1681-82 and continued to be updated and reprinted for over a century. The Zee-Fakkel was renowned for its comprehensive coverage of global maritime regions, and was produced in multiple languages to serve a wide audience of mariners
Johannes van Keulen II (1704-1755) was appointed as the official chartmaker for the VOC in 1743. This appointment formalized a long-standing relationship between the van Keulen family and the company. In 1753, Johannes II published the sixth volume (the “secret atlas”) of the Zee-Fakkel, which was a groundbreaking work containing charts for navigation covering the waters from the Cape of Good Hope to Nagasaki26.
The van Keulen family's work with the VOC resulted in sea charts of superior engraving quality and craftsmanship, surpassing earlier printed sea charts. These charts, especially those from the "secret atlas," are now considered among the rarest and most desirable for collectors due to their historical significance and the restricted nature of their original use.
The van Keulen family continued to hold the title of official chartmaker for the VOC until the company's dissolution in 1799, cementing their place in the history of Dutch maritime cartography and their crucial role in the VOC's operations.