Fine Original Color
Rare Johannes de Ram map of Ceilon, one of the most decorative large format maps of Ceilon of the period.
The island is shown in remarkable detail, along with the contiguous coast of India. Two large allegorical cartouches.
The map would later be re-issued by Ottens in the 18th Century.
Rarity
The de Ram edition is very rare. We locate only on example in a dealer catalogue in the past 30 years.
The Ottens brothers, Reiner and Joshua, operated a successful printing partnership in the mid-eighteenth century (fl. 1726-1765). They began the venture in 1726, publishing maps and other prints as “R & I Ottens.” They specialized in the reprinting of others’ work, especially Guillaume De L’Isle. In 1750, Reiner died; his soon, also Reiner, took his place, but the firm began listing their works as “Joshua & Reiner Ottens.” The firm lasted until Joshua’s death in 1765. Joshua’s widow, Johanna de Lindt, sold their remaining stock of plates in 1784.