Pieter van der Aa (1659 – 1733)
was a Dutch publisher and bookseller, born in Leyden to a German woodcutter from Holstein. All three van der Aa sons came to be involved in the printing business. While Hildebrand worked as a copper engraver and Boudeweyn as a printer Pieter is best known for his voluminous output of maps and atlases. Already in the age of 23 he owned a bookshop and an auction house. He increasingly specialized in books on geography and travel. Already in 1677 Pieter van der Aa became Member of the Bookseller Guild, in 1715 Headprinter of the City of Leyden and shortly later Headprinter of its famous University.
Within 50 years in the business he published a huge amount of highly decorative maps and atlases. In 1706, the „Naaukeurige Versameling Der Gedenk-waardigste Zee en Land-reysen“ (Collection of memorable sea and land voyages) appeared. In 1713 he published the „Nouvel Atlas, tres-exact et fort commode pour toutes sortes de personnes, Contenant les principales cartes geographiques“ and in 1714 the „Atlas nouveau et curieux des plus Celebres Itineraires“.
In 1729 „La Galerie Agreable du Monde“ was completed and comprised 66 parts, bound in 1627 volumes.
Van der Aa‘s works are richly illustrated with maps and plates but many of them contain a curious mixture of his own material, copies of maps of. other publishers and reprints made from older plates, now with his own imprint.After his death his stock was auctioned and most of it went to Covens &Mortier.
Map Details
This rare historic engraving was published in Pieter van der Aa‘s „De Aanmerkenswaardige Voyagien door Francoisen, Italiaanen, Deenen, Hoogduytsen en andere Vreeemde Volkeren gedaan na Oost- en West-Ind.“ by the author in Leyden 1706. His name is to be found underneath the neatline.
The title describes this map as the „Northern Part of Virginia“ which is now northeastern America and southeastern Canada but in fact far more territory is described in its borders. The map also shows Greenland, Iceland, the British Isles, western Europe including the coasts of Spain, Portugal and France, the western end of the Mediterranean, and the northwestern corner of Africa, including Madeira and the Canary Islands.
Of particular note are the dotted lines. They show the sea routes from England to Cape Cod, taken by Gosnold and Pringe, relatively unrecognized English explorers, on separate journeys in 1602 and 1603.
Bartholomew Gosnold (1572 – 1607), an English barrister from Suffolk, was instrumental in the formation of the Virginia Company in London. There is no record of his early maritime experiences. In 1602 he sailed from England, intending to establish a colony in New England, then known as Virginia. He pioneered a direct sailing route west from the Azores to what later became „New England“. On 14 May, Gosnold made landfall off the southern coast of Maine with purpose of setting up a small fishing outpost. The next day he sailed into Provincetown Harbour where he is credited with naming Cape Code, for the abundant fish. South of it he also discovered an island which was widely covered with wild grapes and named it after his daughter „Martha‘s Vineyard“ („Marta‘s Wyngaard“ on this map). Later on Gosnold established a small settlement on Cuttyhunk island, one of the Elizabethan Islands. On 17 June he embarked on the return voyage to England.
Martin Pring (1580 – 1626) was an English explorer from Bristol who in 1603 in the age of 23 was captain of an expedition to the northern parts of the territory known as Virginia to assess its commercial potential. He departed on 10 April and made landfall about two months later at the entrance of Penobscot Bay in what is now the state of Maine. He spent several months exploring and finally reached Cape Cope. On 8 or 9 August 1603 Pring departed for England.
The map itself has a decorative title cartouche which is accompanied by an illustration of indigenous peoples meeting Europeans whose frigate is anchored some distance from the shore. Dinghies are transporting the sailors dry to land. In the lower left corner there are two distance scales. A nice compass rose is placed in the middle of the North Atlantic („Mar del Nort“).
Iceland („Yslandia“) is placed at the upper end of the map in a lengthy form. In the interior some mountains are depicted, amongst them the active volcano „Hekla M.“
There are three names along the coastline: „Ryke Nes“ (Reykjanes peninsula), „Langa Ness“ (Langanes peninsula) and „Prelands I.“ (?). South of Iceland are the Westman Islands („Westmanna“) and east of it the fantasy island named „Enchuyser I.“.