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Titled Frisiae Dominium vernacule Friesland, verdeeld in de Hoofd-deelen van Oostergoo, Westergoo en Sevenwolden, the map was issued circa 1706 and divides Friesland into its historic districts of Oostergo, Westergo, and Zevenwouden. The traditional Frisian administrative territories, or grietenijen, are carefully delineated and identified.
Based upon the pioneering regional surveys of Bernardus Schotanus à Sterringa, the map provides an extraordinary record of Friesland’s early-18th-century landscape. Leeuwarden, Sneek, Harlingen, Franeker, Dokkum, and numerous smaller towns are shown alongside roads, canals, lakes, dikes, estates, forests, churches, and areas reclaimed from the sea. Principal towns are emphasized in red, while territorial divisions retain attractive early outline color.
At upper left is a separately titled inset, Kaart van de Friesse Eilanden met de omliggende Zee-Plaatsen, depicting the Frisian Islands of Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland, and Schiermonnikoog together with the surrounding coastal waters. The map also incorporates a decorative title cartouche with the arms of Friesland and a fascinating representation of the celebrated Stenen Man, the memorial erected near Harlingen in honor of Caspar de Robles and his work on Friesland’s sea defenses.
An impressive and information-rich example of Golden Age Dutch regional cartography, particularly desirable for collectors of Friesland, the Netherlands, European coastal history, land reclamation, and early surveying.
Cartographer and publisher: Pieter Schenk the Elder
Place: Amsterdam
Date: Circa 1706
Medium: Copperplate engraving on laid paper
Color: Original or early hand coloring
Suggested retail price: $695
Condition: Strong engraved impression with attractive surviving color. General age toning, scattered foxing and staining, marginal handling wear, and several edge tears. A longer closed tear extends inward from the upper-right margin, with discoloration nearby. Additional staining and possible old reinforcement or residue appear near the upper-left corner. Substantially complete, with generous margins. Please examine the photographs carefully.
