Large Antique Map of Java & Madura with Batavia Inset, c.1870s Dutch East Indies
€ 1 400
Original antique · The actual sheet photographed · Certificate of authenticity on request · Sold unframed · Worldwide shipping from € 15 (rates)
Mapmaker / artist
Seyffardt’s Boekhandel, Amsterdam, c.1870s
Technique
Engraving with original hand color, dissected and mounted on linen
Sheet size
42 × 124 cm (16.5 × 48.8 in)
Condition
Good
Reference
BG-14075
What the condition grades mean
Excellent
Bright and clean, with no faults worth mentioning.
Very good
Only light signs of age, such as faint toning.
Good
Normal signs of age for a sheet of this period: toning, some foxing, small marks or neat old repairs.
Fair
Clear faults such as staining, tears or repairs, priced to match.
Every fault we see is written in the condition note, and the whole sheet is shown uncropped in the photos.
Condition
Original linen backing with issued folds. Some light toning and minor spotting along folds and intersections, but overall strong and complete.
About this sheet
Large Antique Map of Java & Madura with Batavia Inset, c.1870s Dutch East Indies
This finely detailed 19th-century Dutch colonial map is titled “Java en Madoera op den schaal van 1:600.000”, published in Amsterdam by Seyffardt’s Boekhandel in the late 19th century, circa 1870s–1880s. The map was produced at a scale of 1:600,000, offering an authoritative overview of the most important island of the Netherlands Indies.
The map covers the entire island of Java together with Madura, highlighting towns, residencies, mountain ranges, rivers, and the road network. Relief is expressed through finely engraved hachures, and administrative divisions are outlined with subtle original hand color.
In the lower left corner, an important inset plan shows Batavia (modern Jakarta) and its port area, with canals, fortifications, and public buildings carefully named — a rare and valuable reference to the colonial capital during its 19th-century expansion.
Size: approx. 124 × 42 cm (49 × 16½ in) when fully opened. Dissected into panels and mounted on original linen, as issued, making it both portable and durable.
Framing Tips: Due to its long horizontal format, this map works best in a wide landscape-style frame. A black or dark wood frame with a cream or pale gray mat highlights the detail while emphasizing its cartographic presence.
Collector’s Note: Large-scale Dutch colonial maps of Java were indispensable for administrators, traders, and travelers. Seyffardt’s edition is especially desirable for its Batavia inset, documenting the colonial capital in fine detail. Surviving examples in good condition are increasingly scarce and sought after by collectors of Indonesia and the Dutch East Indies.
