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Rare birdseye view of Fort Caroline, on the mouth of the St. John's River.
This rare view illustrates a Dutch narrative regarding early colonization of Florida, including Fort Caroline, founded in 1564, at the mouth of the (now) St. John's River. The fort is shown with its gun emplacements and the surrounding countryside is filled with cattle, Indians and colonists going about their daily chores. The harbor is filled with boats and ships. Title in ribbon style cartouche.
Vander Aa's oversized views rarely appear on the market. This is the first example we have had in 15 years.
Pieter van der Aa (1659-1733) was a Dutch mapmaker and publisher who printed pirated editions of foreign bestsellers and illustrated books, but is best known for his voluminous output of maps and atlases. Van der Aa was born to a German stonecutter from Holstein. Interestingly, all three van der Aa sons came to be involved in the printing business. Hildebrand was a copper engraver and Boudewyn was a printer.
