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"What the 'first folio' is to an English collector, a Van der Donck is to the American." (Stevens)

This very rare 1656 map, by Evert Nieuwenhof, provides a fascinating glimpse into the early Dutch colonial understanding of New Netherland, the area we now recognize as parts of New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Connecticut. The map was included in the second edition of Adriaen van der Donck's influential work, Beschryvinge van Nieuw-Nederlant (Description of New Netherland), published in Amsterdam.

Though commonly referred to as the "van der Donck map," Burden (317) points out that this designation is technically incorrect. Van der Donck, a prominent figure in the colony of New Netherland, died in 1655, a year before this map’s release. Consequently, the map is credited to Evert Nieuwenhof, the publisher responsible for both editions of van der Donck's work. Nieuwenhof’s engraved signature, found in the lower left corner, confirms his role in its creation and publication.

Van der Donck himself was a notable resident and public official in New Netherland, having arrived in 1642 and later serving as sheriff in the colony of Rensselaerwyck. His life in New Netherland included the purchase of an estate on the Hudson River, near the modern city of Yonkers. In his book, van der Donck provides a comprehensive description of New Netherland, with an emphasis on the indigenous communities of the region—a rare focus in a period when European explorers and settlers often marginalized or misunderstood native peoples.

The map’s cartographic origins can be traced to Nicolaes Visscher's circa 1655 Novi Belgii..., focusing on that map's depiction of the area in that map between the Delaware and Connecticut Rivers. Nieuwenhof’s adaptation closely mirrors Visscher’s portrayal of the region, with only slight differences in the place names.

It is sometimes said that the view at the base of the map is the first of New York; however, as Burden notes, it is derived from the one found in the Visscher map, itself "probably the second published view of the city, the first being that of Joost Hartgers in 1651."

The map reflects both the geographical knowledge and the colonial ambitions of the Dutch in North America, which, in New Amsterdam, had begun in 1625. Their presence would last until 1664, when the English seized the colony and renamed it New York, marking the end of Dutch rule in the region.

Rarity

The map is very rare on the market, this being the first time we have had it.

The Vogel Collection copy of the map, purchased from Arkway in 2005, made $20,000 at Sotheby's in 2019.