1606 Jodocus Hondius Map of Ceylon

images/purmap_03_b.jpg
Click on image to see text on the back of Map
Click for Full Size image of Map Back

Description Ceylon. Unusual five sided shape with North to left
Back Description of the Island of Ceilon
Cartographer Petrus Plancius
Publisher Jodocus Hondius
Language French
Publication Place Amsterdam
Publication Date 1606
Map Dimensions 13.5 x 19.5 inches
Color Hand Colored
Source Gerard Mercator Atlas

In 1606 J. Hondius introduced in the Mercator Atlas a separate map of Ceylon, which was prepared by Petrus Plancius, at the time the official map maker of the V.O.C.

A beautiful early map of Ceylon. North is oriented to the left, shown with an unusual five sided shape. This map gives pictorial detail of mountains, roads, forests, villages, kingdoms, mines, stupas and spice plantations. Embellished with three strapwork cartouches, A compass rose, a galleon under sail and animals including a large elephant roaming the interior.

100 dpi Digital scans of 17th-19th Century Maps with Ceylon in the Collection of
Mr Percival Upajiva Ratnatunga (1911-2003), Survey General of Ceylon 1967-68.
The original Maps were purchased by him in Post World War II, London