Dutch Town Atlas

Theatrum Iconographicum
Omnium Urbium

Harderwijk

Groenlo

Tiel

Wageningen

Gelre (Geldern)

Leiden, Burcht

Leiden, Lakenhal

Leiden

Amsterdam

Amsterdam, brandspuit Van der Heyden

Amsterdam, profiel (Joan de Ram)

Amsterdam, Beurs

Amsterdam, Nieuwezijdskapel

Amsterdam, profiel

Zierikzee

Utrecht

Antwerpen, Oostershuis

Mechelen

Luik (Liège)

Antwerpen, Stadhuis

The late 17th century Stedenboek (book of cities) by Dutch cartographer Frederik de Wit is one of the rarest map books in the world. Only four copies are know to exist and the finest version has been digitised and uploaded by the National Library of The Netherlands. [Flash and html formats are available]

De Wit was among the last of the renowned cartographers in what is referred to as the Golden Age of Dutch cartography. Common to all his work was superb engraving and exceptional colouring qualities that resulted in maps of unique beauty and historical interest.

This city collection might even be thought of as the culmination of a century's effort by Dutch urban cartography. De Wit was able to acquire engraved copper plates of towns produced in the mid-1600s by the esteemed Blaeu and Jansson families. These were both copied and modified and accompanied original map designs de Wit engraved himself for the exquisite Stedenboek.

Natural South Carolina

Original title: Live Oak; Ivory Billed Wood-pecker
Common name: Laurel oak; Ivory-billed woodpecker
Scientific name: Quercus laurifolia | Campephilus principalis




Original title: Magnolia or Laurel-Flower
Common name: Southern magnolia
Scientific name: Magnolia grandiflora*




Original title: Flying-Fish as large as life; Dolphin
Common name: Sailfin flyingfish
Scientific name: Parexocoetus brachypterus





Original title: Helisa; [Queen butterfly]
Common name: Milkweed; Queen butterfly
Scientific name: Asclepias [variegata?] | Danaus gillipus





Original title: Blue Jay; Crab Tree
Common name: Blue jay; Flowering crabapple
Scientific name: Cyanocitta cristata | Malus augustifolia




Original title + common name: Balsam Apple
Scientific name: Momordica balsamina or Momordica charantia




Original title: Locust; Red Bird
Common name: Black locust; Cardinal
Scientific name: Robinia pseudoacacia | Cardinalis cardinalis




Original title: Summer Drake
Common name: Wood duck
Scientific name: Aix sponsa




Original title: Sweet Scented Small Melon
Common name: Watermelon [?] {Or not}*
Scientific name: Citrullis vulgaris [?]




Original title: Trumpet Tree
Common name: Cow itch vine
Scientific name: Campsis radicans




Original title: Punchapau of East Florida or Oleander
Common name: Oleander
Scientific name: Nerium oleander

[click on any image for an enlarged version]

The Ethelind Pope Brown Collection of South Carolina Natural History at the University of South Carolina consists of thirty two watercolour sketches of flora and fauna from the South East United States, produced between about 1765 and 1775.

The series has been attributed at one time or another to such luminary natural history artists as John Abbott^[previously] and Mark Catesby^[previously], and although the true painter remains officially unknown, expert opinion now favours the sketches having been produced by a local amateur artist called John Laurens. [info]