Antique Print of Dabhol by Van der Aa (1727)

Description: Antique print titled 'De Bay ende Stadt Dabul'. Bird's eye view of Dabhol as seen from the sea. The city is situated on the Vashishti river, north of Goa in India, on the Malabar Coast. The view shows merchant and fishing ships, as well as a small caravan on the beach. Details defensive batteries on the coast.This plate originates from the very scarse: 'La Galerie Agreable du Monde (...). Tome premier d' Afrique.', published by P. van der Aa, Leyden, c. 1725. This famous work was published in 66 parts and is the biggest print / map book ever published. Van der Aa incorporated plates by other publishers such as Blaeu, Visscher, de Wit, meurs, Halma, Mortier, Allard in this work and often added broad decorative borders. Probably the costliest and complete universal geographic work ever produced. It is said that only 100 copies were printed. Ref: Koeman Aa9; Phillips 2780 note. Rare. Extremely rare.

Artists and Engravers: Pieter van der Aa Pieter van der Aa (Leiden 1659-1733) was a Dutch publisher best known for preparing maps and atlases. The Galerie Agreable contains plates and maps by the best Dutch engravers: Luiken, Goeree, Mulder, Stoopendaal, Aldert Meijer, Romeyn de Hooghe, ao.