Charte universelle de tout le monde1628

This is the first printed world map to include evidence of early Dutch exploration of the northern Australian coastline, 20 years before Abel Tasman’s voyage of exploration.

It depicts a broken coastline stretching up to New Guinea, with information gathered from two Dutch voyages sponsored by the Dutch East India Company — the Willem Jansz voyage in 1606 and the Jan Cartensz voyage in 1623. The map records four rivers noted by Cartensz for the first time, written in French: R. de Spult (Jardine River), R. Batavie (Wenlock River), R. de Coen (Archer River) and R. de Naßou (Nassau River). Also labelled is Haulte Terre or high ground.

There are only six known copies of this map, which was published through a joint effort of the Dutch and the French. Dutch engraver and publisher Cornelis Danckerts was the founder of an important dynasty of cartographers. Originally from Antwerp, the Tavernier family of engravers moved to France around 1575. Melchior Tavernier introduced the fine copper engraving skills of the Dutch printing industry to French printers.