Vincenzo Coronelli was Italy's most esteemed cartographer and globe-maker. A member of the Franciscan order, he also founded the society Accademia Cosmografica degli Argonauti. Coronelli's Atlante Veneto, a compendium of geographical and scientific knowledge in twelve massive volumes contained this great map of the Moluccas. The famous and mysterious Spice Islands were once the only source of mace and nutmeg. Because of the high value that spices had in Europe, the control of the spice trade was the driving force behind most of the European expeditions into South East Asia and there were numerous conflicts over the region. This map shows the island chain from Ternate to Bacan with the locations of the Dutch fortifications. On a full sheet of Italian text (12.6 x 18.3").

References: Shirley (BL Atlases) T-CORO-13a #201.

Condition: B

A crisp impression on a watermarked sheet that has been trimmed to just inside the border at upper right. Minor foxing.