This is a lovely view of Colombo with a number of buildings along the coast and the Indian Ocean teeming with vessels. Valentyn was a prominent historian of the Dutch East India Company who is best known for Oud en Nieuw Oost Indien, his vast illustrated account of the Dutch trading empire in Asia. He twice traveled to the East Indies and served as Calvinist minister to Ambon between 1686 and 1694. In preparing this monumental work, he was given privileged access to the previously secret archives of the VOC, containing transcripts and copies of important earlier Dutch voyages.

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) G.VALN-1a.

Condition: A

A dark impression with attractive color and a fleur-de-lis watermark. Issued folding with a few tiny spots.