Gerard van Schagen 1689 World Map Journal — Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Dutch Golden Age Cartography Notebook

Carry the world as it was imagined in 1689 — when California was an island, mythological gods adorned the borders, and Amsterdam's cartographers ruled the Golden Age of mapmaking.

In 1689, Amsterdam-based engraver and art dealer Gerard van Schagen (c. 1642–c. 1690) published Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula (New and Most Accurate Map of the Entire World) — a supreme example of Dutch Golden Age cartography at its most ambitious. Based primarily on Frederick de Wit's maritime world map Orbis Maritimus (c. 1668), van Schagen's version featured spectacular decorative elements designed by the acclaimed artist Romeyn de Hooghe, whose allegorical border illustrations made this map one of the most visually extraordinary cartographic documents of the 17th century. So controversial were the map's "heathen" mythological decorations that they were later removed from editions included in Dutch "Staten" Bibles — making this original version exceptionally rare. This distinguished hardcover journal features the complete double-hemisphere map as a full-wrap composition across front and back covers.

Front Cover — Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula, Gerard van Schagen, Amsterdam, 1689:
The front cover presents the western hemisphere of van Schagen's double-hemisphere world map, revealing the geographical knowledge — and geographical imagination — of 1689. California appears as an island, a common cartographic misconception of the era; the coastlines of Australia and New Zealand are only partially mapped; Antarctica is absent entirely. Sailing ships navigate uncharted waters; wind heads blow from the corners; intricate compass roses orient the viewer within a world still being discovered. The ornate border panels showcase Romeyn de Hooghe's Baroque allegorical artwork: dramatic battle scenes, Roman gods on Mount Olympus, pastoral fields, and ships alongside mythological sea creatures including mermaids — each element reflecting the classical learning and artistic ambition of the Dutch Golden Age.

Back Cover — Eastern Hemisphere & Allegorical Borders, Romeyn de Hooghe, 1689:
The back cover continues the map across the eastern hemisphere, completing van Schagen's vision of the known world. The decorative borders continue Romeyn de Hooghe's allegorical programme — ships navigating seas filled with sea creatures, pastoral scenes, and mythological figures that transform the map from a navigational document into a work of art. Together, the front and back covers offer the complete Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula as a single, immersive cartographic composition — the world of 1689 in its full Baroque splendor.

Why This Journal Inspires:

• Gerard van Schagen's rare 1689 Nova Totius Terrarum Orbis Tabula — with the controversial mythological decorations later censored from Dutch Staten Bible editions
• Allegorical border illustrations by Romeyn de Hooghe — one of the most celebrated Baroque artists of the Dutch Golden Age
• California as an island, partially mapped Australia, absent Antarctica — the world as understood and imagined in 1689
• A tangible connection to Amsterdam's dominance as the global center of cartography, maritime trade, and Dutch Golden Age culture

Product Details:

• Format: Hardcover lined journal
• Pages: 150 perforated lined pages for easy removal
• Binding: Casewrap sewn binding
• Dimensions: 5.5 × 8.5 inches
• Weight: Approximately 400g
• Cover: Matte laminated full-wrap print

Perfect For:

• Cartography enthusiasts, map collectors, and geography lovers
• Travelers and explorers documenting journeys around the world
• Dutch Golden Age history and art admirers
• Gift for anyone captivated by antique maps, maritime history, and Baroque allegorical art
• Students and educators of 17th-century cartography and exploration history
• Collectors of rare historical documents and Dutch East India Company era artifacts

Carry the world of 1689 — where every voyage was an adventure into the unknown, and maps were masterpieces of art, science, and mythological imagination.

EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Care instructions: Use a soft, clean and dry cloth to gently brush any dust or dirt off from the center of book outwards.