Sri Lanka, India and Indian ocean islands, maps

Manuscript maps of Sri Lanka and the adjacent coast of India (7), Comoros, Seychelles and Maldives (one each), average size of most c.240 x 270mm., one 295 x 480mm., in various washes and inks (black, brown, pink, blue, etc.) on paper, all in card mounts, one restored, a few slight stains and repairs

The condition of these maps is described in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

These charts, which were used  by the VOC for navigation and trading, are mostly of small parts of the coast of Ceylon, but also cover other areas as noted above with scales ranging from 1:7500 to 1:400,000, and give very detailed views of the regions shown, each with a compass rose with rhumb lines, depth indications and (with one exception) a scale. Some show anchorage places and some individual buildings near the coast, two have lettered keys in the margin identifying various features, and one has its title in a decorative cartouche. 

Stylistically the maps appear to have been drawn by two different people or possibly more. Three are signed by Nauwman, captain of VOC ships that sailed to China in 1757 and to Bengal in 1762, two of the three with the "A/VOC" watermark of the Amsterdam chamber of the VOC. Another appears to be based directly or indirectly on a 1738 VOC manuscript map by Pley. All the maps cover regions along the route to and from Ceylon. Nine of the ten are very similar to and at about the same scale as engraved maps published in volume VI (1753) of Johannes II van Keulen's Zee-Fakkel, but it is known that Van Keulen, official cartographer to the VOC, copied manuscript maps in their collection. It is therefore unclear whether the present maps copy Van Keulen's printed maps or the manuscripts on which Van Keulen based them. Perhaps Nauwman and a colleague used Van Keulen's atlas for the voyage and copied its maps, to add information from their own observations during the voyage. 

The map of Huvadhu Atoll on the equator at the southern end of the Maldive Islands (also known as Gaaf Alif & Gaaf Dhaal, or Suvadiva Atoll) is especially important, for there appears to have been no detailed printed map of the atoll at this date. The maps comprise:

 7 MAPS FROM CEYLON & THE ADJACENT INDIAN COAST

 *Venloos Baay aan de Zuyd Kust van het Eylandt Ceylon (J Z Nauwman, 26 March 1763). 1:100,000.

 *Aan de Oost Cust van 't Eylandt Cylon [near Batticaloa] (J Z Nauwman, 26 March 1763). 1:130,000.

 *Gedeelte der Zuydkust van het Eyland Ceylon/De Baay van Nilewelle ... [around Tangalla]. 1:26,000.

 *De Zuydwest kust van het Eyland Ceylon/Valsche Baay, Punta Galla & De Baay van Gala. 1:90,000.

 *De Haven van Colombo/De Kust van Ceylon. 1:7500.

 *De Reede van Calpentijn aan de West-zijde van Cylon. 1:140,000.

 *De Kust van Madure [near Tuticorin in Tamilnadu, India, across the Gulf of Manar from Ceylon]. 1:120,000. With a coastal profile at the foot.

 2 MAPS FROM SEYCHELLES & COMORO ISLANDS, NEAR MADAGASGAR

 *d'Eylanden van Cismoledo rond gezeylt door Cornelis Jacobsz. 27 March 1763 (J Z Nauwman) [Cosmoledo Group, Seychelles, 340 km NW of the northern tip of Madagasgar]. 1:180,000. The date must be that of the drawing, rather than the exploration, for the Van Keulen map, published 1753, also says "rond gezeilt door Cornelis Jacobsz."

 *De Oostindische Zee [Anjouan in the Comoro Islands, between the northern tip of Madagasgar and Africa]. 1:250,000. Apparently based directly or indirectly on Pieter Pley's 1738 manuscript map for the VOC.

 1 MAP FROM THE MALDIVE ISLANDS

 *Bij de Maldivische Eylanden [Huvadhu Atoll in the southernmost Maldive Islands, 1000 km W of Ceylon]. [about 1:500,000].